A specialised promotional exhibition aimed at marketing Maldivian fisheries and expanding tourism was hosted in Dhaka by the Maldivian High Commission in Bangladesh.
The gala, titled 'The Great Tuna Gala-Flavors from the Sunny Side', showcased the Maldives' sustainable fisheries industry, culinary traditions, and tourism sector. M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, the Bangladeshi Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, served as the opening session's guest of honour.
The gathering drew senior Bangladeshi government officials, foreign ambassadors, business leaders, and figures from the tourism and seafood industries. Organised jointly by the High Commission and chef Maha Naseer, the showcase highlighted the nation's marine heritage.
Live stations demonstrated the versatile use of oceanic tuna in authentic Maldivian gastronomy. Interactive presentations featured traditional dishes, including 'riha folhi' rolls filled with spiced tuna, classic 'mashuni' alongside flatbread 'roshi', rich 'masburi riha' fish curry, and tuna steaks seasoned with 'lonumirus' chilli paste.
The fisheries sector remains deeply foundational to the Maldivian economy, rural communities, and cultural identity, Shiuneen Rasheed, the High Commissioner of Maldives to Bangladesh, underscored during her address. Commercial cooperation can be significantly broadened by expanding seafood exports into Bangladesh and cultivating new tourism avenues, the ambassador observed.
Substantial potential exists to strengthen bilateral relations in both sectors through joint promotional ventures, Minister Millat asserted. The Dhaka exhibition forms part of a diplomatic strategy by the Maldivian government to market its marine products globally.