Pakistan and Maldives agree to raise trade to $200 million in two years

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and the Maldives agreed on Wednesday to raise bilateral trade from $130 million to $200 million within two years, according to Dunya News. The agreement was reached during a three-day state visit by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

The two countries signed and exchanged 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), Dunya News reported. The agreements cover defence, information technology, cybersecurity, healthcare, education, trade, agriculture and tourism, among other sectors.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Muizzu at an official ceremony at the Prime Minister's House. The ceremony included the national anthems of both countries, a guard of honour from the Pakistan Armed Forces and a tree-planting. Muizzu planted a sapling on the lawns of the house, the report said.

Following the ceremony, the two leaders held one-on-one discussions and delegation-level talks. Muizzu arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a delegation of cabinet members and senior officials.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Muizzu. According to the Foreign Office, Dar said Pakistan wanted to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism. Dar also welcomed a Maldivian business delegation taking part in the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum. He said he hoped business-to-business engagements would produce concrete trade and investment opportunities, the Foreign Office said in a statement posted on X.

Muizzu told Pakistani officials that the Maldives wanted to deepen its relations with Pakistan and explore new areas of cooperation, the Foreign Office said.

The report does not say how the $200 million target will be measured or which sectors will drive the increase. Dunya News also reported that Muizzu was scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and attend a state banquet in his honour. The report did not include the outcome of that meeting.

Background

The visit is the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years, according to Dunya News. It comes as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which were established in 1966.