Maldives’ Ambassador to China, Dr Fazeel Najeeb, has highlighted the significant economic opportunities available to Maldivian businesses through the Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Speaking on PSM News’ ‘Raajje Miadhu’ programme, Ambassador Fazeel emphasised the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations and called for deeper collaboration between the Maldivian and Chinese private sectors.
He stressed the importance of Maldivian entrepreneurs uniting to attract Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI), which he said would greatly benefit the local economy. As a former Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority and an experienced economist, Ambassador Fazeel noted that China has made major advancements in the service sector, and Maldives should fully leverage the FTA to boost trade and investment.
He pointed to potential areas of cooperation such as importing agricultural products, adopting Chinese technology for local production, and capitalising on Maldives’ world-class tourism industry as a ready-made market.
The Ambassador also underscored the FTA’s positive impact on the fisheries sector, enabling Maldivian exports to access one of the world’s largest consumer markets and enhancing foreign exchange earnings. With the agreement now in implementation, Maldivian service providers have gained greater access to China, while the nation becomes increasingly attractive to Chinese investors.