The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) delegation, led by Deputy Secretary Tieri, visited Maiana from 18 to 23 September to consult the Maiana Island Council on the outcome of the private-sector tender evaluation and to review and sign the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) MOU for the commercial operation of the Maiana Clam Hatchery Project. The CEO of the Kiribati Chamber of Commerce also accompany the MFOR delegation to Maiana Island to promote clam farming as a viable business opportunity and encourage participation from individuals and private-sector businesses.

During the Full Council meeting on 22 September 2026, Island Ornamental Group Services (IOGS) a selected private company presented its business plan and confirmed that it had secured a potential buyer in the United States. The Mayor and Te Bau ni Maiana representative welcomed the initiative and expressed optimism that the long-awaited benefits of the project would soon be realized.

IOGS plans to begin by exporting market-sized clams as sample shipments to establish export networks and gain experience with the export process. Under the PPP arrangement, MFOR, through the EU Fisheries Sector Support Programme, will continue supporting operations until the first three export consignments of locally farmed clams are successfully completed. This is to ensure that project achieve its core objective - to enable the people of Maiana to actively participate in aquaculture and generate income from the export of ornamental clams.