President Muizzu promotes China-Maldives economic partnerships

President Mohamed Muizzu has called for enhanced partnerships with China that prioritize job creation, skill development, and industrial growth alongside capital investment. Speaking at the China-Maldives Investment Cooperation Forum, the President emphasized the importance of transforming economic ties into opportunities for local businesses and expanding Maldivian entrepreneurship in international markets.

A central component of this relationship is the China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on January 1, 2025. Between January 2025 and August 2026, the Maldives imported approximately USD 440 million in goods from China, with USD 124 million of that total processed under the preferential arrangements of the agreement.

The forum, which included representatives from over 40 Chinese companies, aimed to strengthen ties across various sectors, including fisheries, renewable energy, food security, and digital technology. The administration is utilizing frameworks such as the new Foreign Investment Act and Vision 2040 to support these growing commercial exchanges.