Maldives to Withdraw Import Duty on Bangladeshi Goods

Maldives has decided to withdraw import duties on Bangladeshi products including medicines effective by the end of the year and improve trade and investment cooperation between the two South Asian nations, reports UNB.

Maldives Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem conveyed his government decision during bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at the Foreign Office Sunday afternoon.

The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to resolve various problems facing the Bangladeshi expatriate workers in the island state.

Presently, the Maldives authorities registered 12,000 out of 17,000 Bangladeshi workers and its Labour Ministry is working on documenting the remaining workers.

He said both sides agreed to expand cooperation in education, tourism and trade. Present volume of bilateral trade is minimal, US$ 0.7 million, Naseem told reporters.

Naseem said Maldives can contribute its experience in developing Bangladesh's tourism sector while they sought cooperation from Bangladesh to train their judges as he said Male is facing some difficulties in the judiciary.