Official negotiations to establish a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the Maldives have formally commenced. Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, confirmed that the inaugural meeting for this initiative was held last Monday, noting that both nations aim to finalize the agreement as expeditiously as possible. This FTA is expected to provide significant tariff concessions for Maldivian exports and unlock broader commercial opportunities. Following the existing FTA with China, this agreement with India will enable the Maldives to strengthen its trade relations with two of the world’s largest consumer markets. Furthermore, the Maldives has recently signed a preferential trade agreement with Türkiye to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.
