- Global shipping company Evergreen Line has entered the Maldivian market with MSS, a subsidiary of STO, serving as its local representative under an agreement signed with Evergreen's Sri Lanka office.
- Officials said the partnership will improve cargo access to Evergreen's global network, particularly easing the transportation of goods from China, while addressing logistics challenges and harbour congestion in Malé.
- MSS, which already works with Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, said it would continue exploring further partnerships with other international shipping operators.
Maldivian businesses will gain wider access to international cargo routes following the entry of global shipping company Evergreen Line into the local market through Maldives State Shipping (MSS).
Evergreen officially began its Maldives operations at a ceremony held at Hotel Jen in Malé. MSS will serve as the company’s local representative under an agreement signed with Evergreen’s Sri Lanka office.
The ceremony was attended by State Minister for Economic Development, Transport and Trade Abdul Latheef, MSS Managing Director Ahmed Shareef, State Trading Organisation Managing Director Shimad Ibrahim and senior company officials. MSS is a subsidiary of STO.
State Minister Abdul Latheef said the partnership would combine MSS’s experience with Evergreen’s global network to address logistics challenges affecting the transportation of cargo to the Maldives.
According to the state minister, more than 90,000 categories of goods are imported into the country, making shipping services an important part of the Maldivian economy. He identified congestion at the Malé Commercial Harbour as the industry’s main current challenge and said the government’s planned relocation of commercial port operations was expected to benefit the wider shipping sector.
Shareef said the agreement would give Maldivian importers and exporters easier access to Evergreen’s cargo services across different regions. He said the partnership was particularly expected to improve the transportation of goods from China to the Maldives.
MSS has also been listed on Evergreen Line’s official website as the company’s representative in the Maldives.
Evergreen Sri Lanka Vice President Anuradha Fernando said the company had conducted extensive research before selecting a local partner that met its requirements. She said Evergreen was confident in its decision to begin operations in partnership with MSS.
MSS currently works with international shipping companies Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk. The company said it would continue exploring partnerships with other global shipping operators.
