Amid escalating tensions with Malé, India has decided to restrict exports to Maldives, with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) imposing port restrictions for the shipment of essential commodities to the island nation during the fiscal year 2024-25.
As per the notification, issued under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, specific conditions are incorporated for exporting essential commodities under the prohibited/restricted category to the Maldives.
From which Indian ports essential commodities to Maldives be exported?
Essential commodities falling under the prohibited/restricted category will now be exported to the Maldives only through four designated customs stations.
1 – Mundra Sea Port, Gujarat
2 – Tuticorin Sea Port, Tamil Nadu
3 – Nhava Sheva Sea Port (JNPT), Maharashtra
4 – ICD Tughlakabad, New Delhi
The move is said to be a part of the bilateral agreement between the Government of India and the Mohamed Muizzu-led Maldives government.
The move comes within days after India, on April 5, lifted restrictions on the export of a specified quantity of nine products including potatoes, onions, eggs, rice, wheat flour and sugar to Maldives for the current fiscal.
India and the Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981 which enabled for export of essential commodities. This agreement continues to guide the trade relations between the two countries.
However, the ties between India and the Maldives have hit rock bottom following a social media dispute that led to an uproar among Indian tourists, who began boycotting the island nation as a travel destination and instead chose Lakshadweep. Since then, both sides have been making attempts to mend their diplomatic ties.
The relationships between the two countries were also affected after Muizzu took over as the Maldives President and in January this year, requested India to withdraw military troops stationed in his country. He had also set May 10 as the deadline for the complete withdrawal of the troops.
The agreement between Maldives and India was aimed at replacing the Indian military personnel stationed in Maldives — to oversee the operations of the military aircraft — with trained civilians, also from India. But, Muizzu later declared that no Indian military personnel, including those in civilian attire, would be permitted in his country after May 10.
With inputs from agencies
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