- The Marketplace District at Maldives Expo 2026 grows to over 130 vendors from 100, with larger stalls and regional trade carts from Fuvahmulah and Eydhafushi.
- Overall participation surges to more than 1,000 SMEs across seven zones, with competitive registrations doubling to 780 and over 6,000 product submissions.
- Two new districts debut—Visitor Economy and International—featuring exhibitors from India, China, and the UAE, though competition awards remain reserved for Maldivian citizens.
More than 130 small businesses and artisans will participate in the Marketplace District at Maldives Expo 2026, marking a rise from 100 vendors last year and underscoring growing commercial interest in the national showcase.
The expansion comes as the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, alongside the Business Center Corporation (BCC), prepares to host the event from 25 October to 2 November. To accommodate the increase in food producers, craftspeople, and local creators, organisers have enlarged stall dimensions from five-by-six feet to eight-by-eight feet. The district will also feature dedicated regional trade carts from Fuvahmulah City and Eydhafushi City.
The BCC informs that the overall enterprise engagement has surged across the entire event, which originally began 80 years ago as a modest trade gathering. More than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will participate across seven specialised zones. Competitive registrations have more than doubled to 780 enterprises compared to 308 in the previous edition, whilst product submissions have risen to over 6,000 entries.
To highlight craftsmanship, the BCC is shifting the display format from firm-based groupings to an item-focused arrangement, allowing visitors to inspect individual products and identify original creators directly.
The 2026 showcase also introduces two new structural areas, details the BCC. The Visitor Economy District will cater specifically to regional tourism operators, enabling islands involved in guesthouse ventures to highlight localized services on a national stage. Meanwhile, the International District will display overseas innovations and establish direct trade channels between domestic vendors and foreign firms.
Exhibitors from India, China, and the United Arab Emirates—particularly those involved in major Maldivian infrastructure projects—will exhibit within the International District. However, State Minister for Economic Development, Transport and Trade Abdulla Shiyaz confirmed that official competition awards remain strictly reserved for Maldivian citizens.
State Minister Shiyaz noted during a PSM News broadcast that organisers introduced the separate international section to empower local creators and provide them with new opportunities, describing the zone as a collaborative bridge intended to advance the country’s technological sector.
