Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal Sign Customs Cooperation Agreement
- Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Intent to exchange pre-arrival goods information.
- The agreement was signed in Malé during the 14th SASEC Customs Group meeting.
- The framework aims to reduce border delays, lower logistics costs and improve supply chain security.
Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal have signed a Memorandum of Intent to exchange pre-arrival information on goods, aiming to facilitate trade and strengthen customs controls across the region.
The agreement was signed in Malé on Wednesday during the 14th South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Customs Group meeting.
The signing was witnessed by Minister for Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan and Asian Development Bank Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist for South Asia Dr Yurendra Basnett.
The framework will allow customs administrations to exchange key cargo information before shipments arrive, strengthening coordination and compliance across borders.
The initiative is also expected to benefit businesses by reducing border delays, lowering logistics costs and improving shipment predictability and supply chain security.
The four countries said the cooperation will help make cross-border trade faster, safer and more reliable for businesses across the region.
