Maldives News Bulletin - Volume 199

The newly appointed Consul General of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Maldives, Aleksei M. Idamkin, presented his Consular Commission Letter to Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel on 23 December.

During the ceremony, Minister Dr Khaleel congratulated Consul General Idamkin on his appointment and offered his well wishes for his tenure. Minister Dr Khaleel further highlighted the significance of his appointment, as Russia becomes the first country to appoint a Consul General to the Maldives.

Minister Dr Khaleel welcomed the Consul General’s appointment with enthusiasm, highlighting the important role Russia plays as the second-largest source market for tourists to the Maldives. The Minister also noted that the appointment of the Consul General of Russia will enhance consular services, providing greater support for Russian nationals visiting, residing or investing in the Maldives.

The Russian Consul General, Mr Idamkin, offered his thanks to the Foreign Minister and stated that his focus will be on ensuring efficient consular services for Russians visiting or residing in the Maldives as well as promoting economic partnerships.

Minister Dr Khaleel was accompanied by Secretary Bilateral, Dr Hala Hameed; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Mariyam Zulfa; Senior Under Secretary, Hassan Hussain Shihab; and Chief Desk Officer, Aminath Shaistha Hamdan Zaki.

 _{SOURCE : Ministry of Foreign Affairs}

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has signed a contract with a local company to undertake consultancy services to enhance the data management system of the transport sector.

According to the Ministry, the consultancy aims to establish a secure and efficient system for accessing transport-related data essential for compiling Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories.

A key deliverable includes the development of a secure data-sharing interface integrated with a new CMS-based website for the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, along with a Roadworthiness System to collect odometer data, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of GHG inventories.

The activity is being carried out by the Capacity Building for Improved Transparency of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Actions in the Maldives (CBIT Maldives) project under the MOU signed with the Transport Ministry on 12 August.

The CBIT Maldives project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and executed by the Ministry, with implementation support from the United Nations Environment Programme.

The contract-signing ceremony took place at the Ministry on December 23, with the Permanent Secretary, Ajwad Musthafa, representing the Ministry, and the Managing Director, Ahmed Shareef, signing on behalf of Ritariworks Pvt Ltd.

By aligning the Maldives’ transparency efforts with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement, the CBIT Maldives project seeks to strengthen long-term institutional arrangements, systematise data collection and processing, and develop indicators and methodologies.

Additionally, the project aims to improve overall data quality and management procedures for GHG inventories, mitigation and adaptation actions tracking, and climate finance, ensuring regular and transparent reporting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.

These efforts will inform national decision-making processes and contribute to the effective management of climate change challenges.

 _{SOURCE : PSM}

The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, briefed representatives from multiple Chinese companies exploring investment opportunities in fisheries, mariculture and blue economy initiatives in the Maldives, on December 23.

Minister Shiyam briefed the corporations regarding the Government’s plan to develop sport fishing harbours and agriculture and extended his support to facilitate any investments in these areas.

In addition, he held a meeting with officials from the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China.

During the meeting, discussions focused on fostering cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maldives Marine Research Institute on marine research and training, as well as identifying potential joint projects to advance blue economy-related developments in the Maldives.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has given special emphasis to developing the country’s fisheries industry, with several initiatives already underway.

Minister Shiyam has also vowed to develop the fisheries industry to rival the tourism sector as the mainstay of the country’s economy.

_{SOURCE : PSM}

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has officially launched the ‘Shariah Principles and Standards of Zakat Collection and Distribution,’ signifying the inaugural documentation and publication of such principles and standards in the Maldives. The launch event, held at the Islamic Centre Hall, was presided over by Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.

The newly unveiled principles and standards aim to provide a comprehensive framework for the effective and efficient management of zakat, in accordance with Islamic Shariah. The principles were formulated by the Zakat House, which is mandated with various aspects of zakat management, including collection, distribution, investment in Shariah-approved areas, public education, maintenance of a poverty registry, empowerment programmes, and the announcement of the nisab for Zakat Al-Mal.

In his address, Minister Dr Shaheem highlighted the rationale behind President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s decision to establish the Zakat House. He characterised the new principles and standards as the foundational charter of the Zakat House, serving as the primary document and policy guide for its operations.

Director General of Zakat House, Izzaddin Adnan, expressed gratitude to Minister Dr Shaheem for his support and prioritisation of the formulation of the Zakat principles and standards.

The implementation of these principles would strengthen the Zakat House’s work and enable it to undertake additional initiatives, he added.

The principles and standards were developed based on the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as well as the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, including Ijma and Qiyas. They also incorporate fatwas issued by Islamic fiqh academies, resolutions from international Islamic conferences, and practices followed by Zakat offices in other Islamic countries.

During the ceremony, officials of the Zakat House who played a significant role in formulating the principles and standards were honoured and presented with certificates of appreciation.

_{SOURCE : PSM}

The China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will come into force on January 1, will create new avenues for Maldivian businesses to market and sell their products in China, according to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

The China-Maldives FTA, a treaty aimed at promoting trade and investment between the two countries, was signed in 2014 and approved by the Parliament in 2017; however, its implementation was suspended following a change in administration in 2018.

Since assuming office in November 2023, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and his Administration have been working towards implementing the FTA. 

The Economic Ministry has highlighted that local producers and firms willing to export local products, and those interested in producing re-exportable goods will also benefit from the agreement.

Furthermore, duties on a wide range of items and resources essential for creative industries will be waived as part of the FTA. These items include 3D printers, label printers, and photography equipment. Jewellery makers will also benefit from duty exemptions on raw materials.

The fisheries and construction industries are also set to gain from the FTA, with duty waivers on equipment required for these sectors, according to the Ministry. Duties will also be waived for 296 types of seafood.

The agreement will also open opportunities for Maldivian service industry professionals to market and provide their services in China. The Ministry noted this as a significant opportunity for businesses to offer their services to a country with a population exceeding one billion.

The Ministry described the implementation of the FTA as a move that will open Maldivian businesses to the international market. According to Government estimates, China-Maldives trade currently surpasses USD 700 million annually, and this trade volume could rise to USD 1 billion.

_{SOURCE : PSM}

A dinghy vessel located approximately 10 miles off the coast of Fuvahmulah was taken into Coast Guard custody on December 23.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said the Coast Guard Fourth Squadron’s Harbour Patrol identified a suspicious dinghy with three individuals aboard and took the boat into custody.

Upon further investigation, the boat was identified as a ‘skiff,’ a type of boat commonly used by Somalis, and MNDF reported that the people aboard the vessel were believed to be Somalis.

The vessel has been taken to Fuvahmulah Harbour, and efforts are ongoing to hand over the vessel to the police.

_{SOURCE : PSM}

The launch of wide-body aircraft operations to China will help the Maldives to maximise the benefits of the impending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Beijing, the national flag carrier, Maldivian, said on December 23.

Maldivian will connect Velana International Airport (VIA) with three major Chinese cities – Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu – using a wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft next year.

The first of its newly acquired wide-body aircraft is expected to arrive on January 7, 2025.

According to Maldivian, the airline will operate flights to the three Chinese cities three times a week and will accommodate economy, business and premier class passengers along with 10 tonnes of cargo.

The Chief Strategist of Maldivian, Mohamed Saffah, said the direct flight operation will significantly boost the trade flow between the two countries, especially with the FTA coming into effect with the start of the new year.

“This means that if you are looking to import or export local products, especially fish, an additional gateway will be opened with these flights. Especially since we are currently looking to implement the free trade agreement with China, we want to highlight that its benefits will be even greater,” Saffah said.

Maldivian is planning to expand its wide-body operations to Europe after China.

_{SOURCE : PSM}

Maldives Ports Ltd (MPL) has been awarded two significant regional accolades at the South Asian Business Excellence Awards 2024. The awards ceremony took place on December 20 in New Delhi, India.

MPL was honoured with the ‘Innovative Learning and Organisational Development Practice’ award and the ‘Innovative Business Transformation’ award. This marks the first time in MPL’s history that it has received the ‘Innovative Business Transformation’ award.

MPL received the ‘Innovative Learning and Organisational Development Practice’ award for its exceptional efforts in training and offering higher education opportunities to its staff, recognising the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering employee growth and continuously enhancing organisational capabilities.

MPL described the receipt of these awards as a significant milestone for the company, which serves as a testament to its innovative approach and ongoing dedication to excellence.

The South Asian Business Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the business community across South Asia. They highlight innovative practices, leadership excellence, and contributions to economic growth, aiming to inspire and motivate businesses to strive for continuous improvement.

Winners are selected by a panel of expert judges who evaluate the performance of companies from seven South Asian countries. The awards ceremony included presentations in 17 different categories.

_{SOURCE : PSM}