Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade Mohamed Saeed has said Google’s submarine cable project in Addu is expected to position the city as a regional digital hub and strengthen the Maldives’ role in global digital connectivity.

Speaking at the opening of the Addu Business Dialogue, Minister Saeed said Addu would play an important role in the global digital transformation taking place in the coming years.

A new international submarine cable landing station and network facility, “Dhivaru”, is being established in Hithadhoo, Addu City.

“The cable Google is bringing from Christmas Island to Oman will be connected through Hithadhoo in Addu,” Saeed said. “Based on the company’s plans, Hithadhoo is expected to become a digital centre in the Indian Ocean.”

The project was initiated following discussions between President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Google executives during the President’s visit to New York in the United States.

The facility planned for Hithadhoo will be capable of hosting international submarine cables. The Government has said the project is expected to strengthen the Maldives’ position as a digital gateway connecting Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.