Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade Mohamed Saeed has announced a major expansion of the Maldives Expo 2026, highlighting a sharp surge in participants and products for the upcoming event aimed at driving local production and market access.
Speaking at a press conference today, Minister Saeed detailed key updates regarding the exhibition, officially branded as the Maldives Expo 2026. The event’s main award ceremony will take place on 26 October 2026, while the primary exhibition is scheduled to begin on 2 November 2026.
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The Minister stated that the Maldives Expo was created to provide a unified platform for local producers and entrepreneurs across the Maldivian atolls. He highlighted that its primary objective is to showcase locally manufactured goods on a single stage, foster business growth, and connect producers with broader market opportunities.
According to the Minister, participation has experienced remarkable growth compared to last year, with exhibitor numbers surging from 240 in 2025 to 780 in 2026, a 225 per cent increase. He added that the volume of showcased goods doubled over the same period, reaching 4,800 individual products.
Reflecting on previous performance, Minister Saeed noted that last year’s 10-day event drew daily turnouts exceeding 80,000 visitors. Driven by the commercial success and business growth generated during prior editions, this year’s exhibition has drawn even higher enthusiasm and item submissions from local stakeholders, according to him.
To better structure the event, the government expanded the exhibition framework from five thematic districts last year to seven districts this year. The two newly added zones are a dedicated Visitor Economy District and an International Exhibitors District.
He said that the Visitor Economy District highlights the unique identities, guesthouse offerings, cultural events, and local attractions across various islands. This initiative directly aligns with the Visitor Economic Council established by the President, designed to integrate tourism more deeply into local societies so that tourism revenue directly benefits island communities. Ten islands are actively competing in this district.
The International District will introduce modern tools and technology to add value to Maldivian small businesses. It will feature 15 commercial entities from China displaying cutting-edge products, 15 participants from India, and expected representation from the United Arab Emirates.
Minister Saeed confirmed that logistical operations for receiving and managing items are being supported by roughly 200 staff members from the Business Centre Corporation (BCC) and the Ministry of Economic Development, alongside around 20 volunteers.
Expressing strong optimism for the event’s outcome, he noted that the exhibition will be highly engaging, exciting, and beneficial for the nation.
