A Maldivian trade delegation has been invited to visit the United States of America, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed confirmed on Monday while speaking during the new cargo terminal inauguration at Velana International Airport.
“The Maldivian Government has never been invited to send a trade delegation to the United States thus far,” the minister said, going on to highlight that he had met with the US Trade Representative and discussed the provision of PayPal services in the Maldives.
“Today [Monday] we met with the US Trade Representative in the Maldives. Last night, the President instructed me to discuss PayPal [payments]… I highlighted it as a priority by the president,” Saeed said.
Imports to the Maldives from the US have increased significantly over the past three years. In 2022, the Maldives imported US$99 million worth of goods—a 140 percent increase over the previous year. In the same year, the Maldives also exported US$17 million worth of goods to the United States—a 19 percent increase over the previous year.