First phase of National Single Window launched

Vice President Hussein Mohamed Latheef officially launched "Tradian" at a ceremony held today at Jen Hotel.

Tradian is designed to centralize all services related to the import and export of goods in the Maldives, allowing businesses to obtain permits from various institutions—such as Transport Ministry, Customs, MPL, and Immigration—through a single platform without needing to contact each agency separately. Services like vessel registration, arrival notices, online payments, vessel declarations, and delivery order creation are all accessible via Tradian.

Speaking at the event, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed emphasized the government's commitment to streamlining business services. He described Tradian as a significant step towards this goal.

"Every business community member knows the challenges of transporting goods across the country," said Saeed.

He also highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to create a favorable business environment and mentioned plans to introduce more global digital services in the Maldives.

"A significant amount of cargo is transported by air. If we improve port facilities, sea-to-air cargo could become more viable. Considering the Maldives' strategic location, there's potential for further business expansion," he added.

Developed through Trade Net Maldives under the Economic Ministry, Tradian aims to enhance the Maldivian business environment. The company's Managing Director, Saeedha Umar, noted that the platform's main goal is to foster a business-friendly climate in the Maldives.

"This is a national initiative where multiple agencies, companies, and private sector entities involved in issuing business permits are collaborating to create a win-win solution for everyone," said Umar.

She also stressed the importance of enacting privacy and data protection laws and specific regulations for digital services as these digital offerings expand.

The development of the single window began in 2016, with a project proposal submitted to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funding. ADB approved financing for the project in 2019. Some services from Tradian's first phase are already operational, with the full range of services expected to be available by the first quarter of next year.