Efforts to deepen trade and investment ties between the Maldives and India are set to take a more structured form, with the decision to establish a Maldives–India Business Council following high-level discussions between government and private sector stakeholders.
The decision emerged from the Maldives–India Business Engagement Series convened by the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, in collaboration with Invest Maldives and the High Commission of India in the Maldives. The forum brought together senior officials and business leaders from both countries to examine opportunities for expanding economic cooperation.
Discussions during the session focused on strengthening commercial linkages and creating a more coordinated framework for bilateral economic engagement. Participants explored both the opportunities available across sectors and the constraints currently affecting cross-border business activity.
The establishment of the Maldives–India Business Council is expected to formalise these interactions, providing a dedicated platform for dialogue between the private sectors of both countries. The initiative is also intended to support more consistent engagement and align business interests within a defined institutional structure.
Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed and High Commissioner of India to the Maldives G. Balasubramanian attended the session, alongside representatives from industry and government agencies.
The move reflects a broader effort to transition from ad hoc engagement towards a more sustained and organised approach to economic cooperation, with an emphasis on facilitating investment flows and strengthening trade relationships between the two countries.
