Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed says the government’s drive to broaden import sources for essential goods is producing results. He delivered the update at a press conference held at the President’s Office.
The government has rolled out targeted measures to shield the Maldives from economic fallout stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Direct cargo flights from the UAE have operated since March 4th, with volumes rising steadily. Sea freight imports, meanwhile, remains largely stable.
The Minister confirmed active efforts to identify alternative suppliers beyond the country’s traditional import partners. Target markets include India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Beyond these, the government is engaging countries with which the Maldives has not previously built strong trade ties. Minister Saeed expects these talks to unlock new freight and logistics routes.
The construction sector faces its own pressures. The Minister acknowledges the challenges and confirmed the government is taking steps to address them.
On the supply chain front, the government is coordinating closely with the State Trading Organization (STO) and maritime operators to secure food and essential goods. The administration is also working to expand the country’s fuel storage capacity; a move that would strengthen energy resilience over the longer term.
Minister Saeed closed by underlining the government’s core priority: keeping essential goods consistently available to the public. The government continues to monitor global price movements closely and will respond as conditions develop.