Thailand’s export products fair in Maldives a success

The fair held Thursday to showcase products of Thailand’s top companies to Maldivian entrepreneurs in order to facilitate more economical trade relations between the two nations was a great success.

Representatives of 30 major Thai companies had accompanied Thailand’s Minister of Commerce Apiradi Tantraporn who had arrived in the Maldives on Wednesday afternoon to attend the Maldives-Thailand Joint Trade Committee’s second meeting. A display of these companies’ products was held at Dharubaaruge convention centre in capital Male until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The fair offered Maldivian businessmen the opportunity to meet the representatives of Thailand’s companies at separate tables showcasing their merchandise. The companies include those in the export of furniture, jewellery, food products, spa products and hotel supplies.

The executives of Thai companies expressed satisfaction with the support and interest received from local businessmen at the fair. A number of representatives declared they had arrived in the Maldives with great hopes to expand their markets. Export firms involved in the tourism sector had been particularly optimistic at forming trade relations with the Maldives as it is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

A representative of DVN International Co. Ltd, which sells healthcare and beauty products such as aromatic spa oils in Thailand and some other countries, said that a number of resorts to be opened soon had expressed interest in importing their products.

Speaking to Mihaaru at the fair, deputy economic minister Adam Thaufeeq said the main objective of the trade committee forum is to seek cheaper importation options from Thailand to Maldivian traders.

“It is our hope to bring commodities to the Maldivian community at economical rates,” he said.

The Maldives has upped efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations with Thailand following President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s official visit to Thailand in January this year. The economic ministry had also met with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and the nation’s businessmen in January.

Thailand exports several commodities to the island nation such as garments, while the Maldives exports a hefty fraction of its fish products to Thailand. Maldives Customs Service’s statistics show that the Maldives had exported goods worth MVR 47 million to Thailand last August alone.