The government has allowed the export of specified quantity of essential commodities including potatoes, onions, eggs, rice, wheat flour and sugar to Maldives for the current fiscal year (2024-25), under bilateral trade agreement between Government of India and Government of Maldives.
The specified quantity allowed to some of major commodities are 21,513.08 tonnes of potatoes; 35,749.13 tonnes of onions; 1,24,218.36 tonnes rice; 1,09,162.96 tonnes wheat flour; 64,494.33 tonnes sugar and 224.48 tonnes of dal. The export of above items to Republic of Maldives will be exempted from any existing or future restriction/prohibition during 2024-25. The approved quantities are the highest since this arrangement came into effect in 1981.
The announcement comes amid a diplomatic row between the two countries since November when pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu took the oath, and within hours demanded India to repatriate its military personnel from his country.