The Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Kong Xianhua has remarked that the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Maldives and China has driven a year-on-year increase in Maldivian fisheries exports to the Chinese market during the first six months of this year.
He made the statement during the opening ceremony of a two-day technical workshop on the Blue Economy. Ambassador Kong attributed the rise directly to the bilateral trade agreement, which grants zero-percent tariff access to a wide range of tuna and marine products entering China.
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Ambassador Kong explained that the agreement has effectively opened China’s extensive market to Maldivian seafood exporters. He noted that while the initial six-month uptick demonstrates clear progress, it represents merely the initial phase of a far greater commercial opportunity for the island nation.
Beyond duty-free access, both nations are expanding technical cooperation to support the sustainable growth of the sector. A delegation from the Maldives is currently participating in an advanced seminar in China covering aquaculture, fisheries product development, and blue economy strategies. This builds upon a collaborative initiative from last year, during which Chinese specialists delivered technical training on sea cucumber farming within the Maldives.
Diplomats and industry representatives expect the combination of tariff-free market access and enhanced technical support to stimulate long-term economic growth, strengthen local seafood production, and create new career pathways for young Maldivians entering the marine industry.
