Maldives Ports Limited CEO Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim has said that the company will soon start taking payments in dollars in exchange for services provided to vessels at the Male' Commercial Harbour.
Wajeeh said that consignees must pay in dollars to boats and in the instance that they pay in Maldivian Rufiya, those who bring in imported goods have to pay 20 percent extra.
"Agents will take 20 percent extra if the payment is in local currency. This might be a result of the higher price of dollars in the black market. However, while this remains so, vessels pay MPL in Maldivian rufiya," he explained.
Wajeeh opined that he did not feel this is fair, and added that even the airport takes fees from boats in dollars. Based on this, he believes it is justified for MPL, too, to accept payments from agents and ships in dollars.
"The ships charge the customers in dollars. So why must MPL accept payments from these ships in Maldivian Rufiya?" Wajeeh asked.
Wajeeh said that these arrangements will be put into effect soon, and boat owners and agents will be duly notified. He added that the proposed idea has already been shared with some agents, and the overall response is positive, with agents willing to fulfill payments in dollars.
Until 2008, MPL used to take payments in dollars. This was changed, with MPL beginning to accept Maldivian Rufiya instead, owing to policy changes of the administration in power at the time.
Wajeeh believes that once the payment starts being taken in dollars again, a positive effect will be made on the dollar scarcity issue faced by the country as well. He expressed hopes that this would contribute to an increase in the amount of dollars that get deposited in banks.
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