- Maldives Post, the UPU and the Islamic Development Bank Institute have launched a study to help small businesses reach customers and access digital financing under the Prosper MSMEs initiative.
- The two-phase project assesses regulations and market demand across eight countries, with a five-day consultation from 1 November gathering stakeholders to identify business needs.
- Officials highlighted financing pressures on small enterprises and pledged support, with findings feeding into a consolidated report and implementation roadmap for future services.
Maldives Post Limited has begun a study into how its postal network could help small businesses reach domestic and international customers and access digital financing under the Prosper MSMEs initiative.
Conducted with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Islamic Development Bank Institute, the study will assess opportunities to connect postal services, e-commerce and Islamic financial services. A five-day consultation process beginning on 1 November brings together government institutions, regulators and other stakeholders to identify business needs and inform technical assistance proposals.
The Maldives is one of eight countries participating in the wider project, which examines how postal infrastructure can support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and communities with limited access to financial services.
The international initiative follows an agreement signed between the Islamic Development Bank Institute and the UPU on 21 September 2026. It comprises two phases: an assessment of regulations governing postal services, e-commerce, digital payments and Islamic finance, followed by analysis of market demand, business barriers and postal network capabilities.
The Institute is financing the project, while the UPU is providing technical expertise, data and access to its international postal network.
Speaking at the launch at Maldives Post, Minister of State for Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Dr Abdulla Nazeer highlighted the financing pressures faced by small businesses taking orders through digital channels.
He noted that enterprises often need funds to purchase supplies before they can fulfil customer orders, with the smallest businesses particularly exposed when financing is unavailable. He called for consultations to identify practical solutions and an appropriate legal and regulatory framework developed through cooperation between institutions.
Maldives Post Managing Director Ahmed Shafeeq said the initiative offered an opportunity to make greater use of the postal sector in supporting a more inclusive digital economy.
Communications Authority of Maldives Chief Executive Ilyas Ahmed also pledged the authority’s support, highlighting the country’s participation in the eight-country study.
The immediate work centres on assessing needs and developing proposals for future services. Across the participating countries, the project aims to identify postal-based e-commerce and financing solutions suited to MSMEs, women and young entrepreneurs, before seeking resources for implementation.
Its findings will feed into a consolidated report and implementation roadmap intended to guide governments, postal operators and development partners.
