India Approves Highest-Ever Export Quotas To Maldives For Essential Commodities

Amid the row with the Maldives, India has allowed for the export of certain quantities of essential commodities for 2024–25 under a unique bilateral mechanism, at the request of the Maldives government. The High Commission of India in the Maldives took to X on Thursday and said that the quotas for each of these items have been revised upwards.

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— India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) April 5, 2024

“Upon the request of the Government of Maldives, the Government of India has allowed for export of certain quantities of essential commodities for the year 2024–25 under a unique bilateral mechanism, wherein the quotas for each of these items have been revised upwards,” the high commission stated.

Notably, the quantities approved by India are the highest since this arrangement came into effect in 1981. The quota for river sand and stone aggregates, crucial items for the booming construction industry in the Maldives, has been increased by 25 percent to 1,000,000 metric tonnes, as per the statement.

There has also been an increase of 5 percent in the quotas for eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, rice, wheat flour, and dal (pulses). Moreover, last year as well, India continued to export rice, sugar, and onions to the Maldives despite a worldwide ban on the export of these items from India.

“India remains strongly committed to supporting human-centric development in the Maldives, as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,” the statement by the Indian High Commission in the Maldives stated.

India-Maldives Diplomatic Ties

Notably, ties between India and the Male have been strained since Muizzu assumed office, as he criticised New Delhi during and after the presidential polls.

In March, the Maldivian President struck a reconciliatory tone, saying India would continue to remain his country’s closest ally and urging New Delhi to provide debt relief to the island nation.

In an interview with the local media, Muizzu said India was instrumental in providing aid to the Maldives and has implemented the greatest number of projects, PTI reported.

India will continue to remain the Maldives’ closest ally, he said, emphasising that there was no question about it, PTI reported, citing a report by Maldives news portal Edition.mv. This came after the first batch of Indian military personnel left the island nation. By May 10, Muizzu had demanded that all 88 military personnel, manning the three Indian aviation platforms, should leave the country.