India has allowed the export of essential goods in to Maldives in 2024 and 2025, at the highest amounts so far since the bilateral agreement first came into effect, the Indian High Commission said.
High Commission of India has stated that in response to a request from the Government of Maldives, the Government of India has permitted the export of defined quantities of essential commodities to the Maldives within 2024 and 2025.
These exports are being allowed under a unique bilateral agreement between the countries which have been continued for over 40 years now.
A statement released by the India High Commission reveals that the amounts approved for export during this period are the largest quantities that have ever been approved since the arrangement was first signed in 1981.
According the the statement, the quota for river sand and stone aggregates have been increased by 25 percent to 1,000,000 Metric Tonnes (MT).
Meanwhile, quotas for eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, rice, wheat flour and pulses (lentil) have increased by 5 percent.
The specific amounts allowed for expert for each item are as follows:
- Eggs: 427,536,904 eggs
- Potatoes: 21,513 MT
- Onions: 35,749 MT
- Rice: 124,218 MT
- Wheat Flour: 109,162 MT
- Sugar: 64,494 MT
- Pulses (Lentil): 224 MT
- Stone Aggregate: 1,000,000 MT
- River Sand: 1,000,000 MT
Export of these items to Maldives will be exempted from any existing of future restrictions during 2024 and 2025, stated a document shared on social media by the High Commission, signed by Director General of Foreign Trade in the Indian Government.
https://t.co/Xxh1P2sS1S pic.twitter.com/FvgAcksXTE
— India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) April 5, 2024
While the previous agreement entered into in 2021 was for a period of three years, the current agreement covers a duration of one year.
Despite there being a worldwide ban in effect in India on the exporting of these items, India allowed export to Maldives in 2023 as well.
In February, with India publicizing the list of countries to which it will be allowing export of onions, there was widespread concern in Maldives about the inability to continue receiving onions from India.
However, the Indian High Commission in Maldives dismissed those rumours, clarifying that onion exports to Maldives from India has always been conducted under a separate bilateral agreement, and that it will continue without interruption.
"India remains strongly committed to supporting human centric development in the Maldives, as part of its 'Neighbourhood First' policy," the High Commission statement shared on social media today ends.
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