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Ministry of Economic Development today appealed to the public to report
businesses being operated illegally by foreigners in the Maldives.
In a statement, the Ministry acknowledged that it has
been receiving complaints regarding foreigners conducting businesses
unlawfully.
The announcement specified that these illicit businesses are primarily
carried out in two ways:
- Businesses where Maldivians are used to obtain licenses and permits, but the operations are predominantly controlled by foreigners.
- Foreigners engaging in sectors that are restricted or prohibited for foreign investment under the Foreign Investment Act.
The Ministry noted that the government has taken
multiple steps to address this issue, including amendments to the Foreign
Investment Law, which were published on 3rd September 2024.
The Ministry urges anyone with information regarding
foreigners engaging in illegal business activities to report them via the
Ministry's website, by calling the Ministry's number 3333199, or by submitting
the issue through the Imuga portal.
The Ministry specified that the reported information
will be forwarded to the National Task Force dedicated to stopping illegal
foreign businesses. This Task Force includes the Ministry of Economic
Development, the Ministry of Homeland Security, the Police, Immigration, and
other relevant government authorities.
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