The Indian government increasing the quota for the import of basic goods to the Maldives reflects the close relationship between the two countries, the Maldives government has said.
The Maldives and India signed their Agreement on Trade Cooperation in 1981. The two countries renewed the agreement and signed a three-year deal in 2021, which expired in March last year.
India has since renewed the quota for the Maldives, increasing its essential commodities quota for food products by five percent, and by 25 percent for stone and aggregate. The Indian High Commission in the Maldives said this increment marks the largest ever under the 1981 Agreement on Trade Cooperation between the two nations. India also assured that the country would supply basic commodities at special prices.
Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer thanked the Indian government and the country's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar for the renewal of the quota extended to the Maldives. He said the renewal has enabled the Maldives to import essential commodities from India for the years 2024 and 2025, and described the move as a gesture that signifies the longstanding friendship between the two countries, and the strong commitment to further expand bilateral trade and commerce between both countries.
Similarly, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed took to social media platform X and stated that the quota renewal emphasizes the close relationship between India and the Maldives. He noted that India's positive response to the Maldives' request for an increase in the quota indicated a mutual desire by both countries to further enhance bilateral relations.
