Maldives expresses gratitude to India for permitting the shipment of certain amounts of necessities

NEW DELHI: Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer said on Saturday that India’s move to extend the quota to permit the export of specific amounts of necessary goods for his country represents the two countries’ long-standing friendship as well as their commitment to advancing trade and commerce.

The Maldives government requested that India permit the export of certain amounts of basic goods, and India granted it, the Indian High Commission said here on Friday.
The Indian High Commissioner announced the change in a post on the social networking site X, stating that it was carried out “under a unique bilateral mechanism” that resulted in an increase in the quotas for each of these commodities.

The mission’s announcement said, “The approved quantities are the highest since this arrangement came into effect in 1981.”
Zameer thanked India on X for the relocation.
“I sincerely thank EAM @DrSJaishankar and the Government of India for the renewal of the quota to enable the Maldives to import essential commodities from India during the years 2024 and 2025,” stated Zameer in a tweet.
“This is truly a gesture that signifies the longstanding friendship and the strong commitment to further expand bilateral trade and commerce between our two countries,” stated the president.
In response to Zameer’s tweet, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the country is steadfastly dedicated to its SAGAR and Neighbourhood First policies.
India’s strategy or ideology of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean area is called Security and Growth for All in the Area, or SAGAR.
India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy highlights the country’s increased emphasis on giving priority to its surrounding nations.
The news of the quota renewal coincides with a diplomatic spat between the two nations that began in November of last year when President Mohamed Muizzu, who is well-known for having pro-China views, asked that India return its 88 military troops to his country within hours of taking office.
The situation worsened when Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared images and videos of the Lakshadweep Islands, sparking a strong outcry from Indians, including several celebrities, over three Maldivian officials’ crude remarks. Indian visitors to the island country have decreased as a consequence of the #BoycottMaldives movement.
Essential goods may be exported in accordance with the 1981 trade agreement between India and the Maldives.
Based on data from the Indian High Commission, bilateral trade between India and the Maldives increased from modest beginnings to surpass USD 300 million in 2021 and then USD 500 million in 2022.
The notice on Friday also states that the quotas for eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, wheat flour, and dal (pulses) have all increased by 5%.
Despite a global embargo on the export of rice, sugar, and onions, India continued to provide the Maldives with these goods last year as well.
“India remains strongly committed to supporting human-centric development in the Maldives as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First policy,” added the statement.
The quota for stone aggregates and river sand—two essential commodities for the developing Maldives building industry—has been raised by 25% to 10,00,000 MT each, it said.
The Maldives’ many atolls and ocean-encircled islands lack enough river sand to sustain its building industry, necessitating the importation of stone aggregates and sand.