Majlis backs China-Maldives free trade agreement

People’s Majlis has voted to back the establishment of a free trade agreement between Maldives and China.

The decision by the Cabinet to establish a free trade deal with China passed with the unanimous vote of the 30 parliamentarians present during the voting this Wednesday night.

The decision to establish a free trade agreement with China was made by the Cabinet this Wednesday afternoon. It was submitted to the People’s Majlis by the President’s Office a short while later. The National Security Committee of People’s Majlis – which was charged with evaluating the agreement – voted to back it after just a 10-minute meeting.

The committee’s report on the agreement was read to the Majlis by Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed.

The committee meeting to evaluate the agreement was held behind closed doors with Minister of Economic Development, Mohamed Saeed.

Wednesday night’s Majlis meeting was boycotted by opposition parliamentarians. And only Gemanafushi MP Jameel Usman spoke during the debate on the committee’s findings.

“This agreement is bringing with it a lot of happiness to the Maldivian people. This agreement will result in benefits to the fisheries and tourism industries and result in easier import/export of agricultural products,” said Jameel Usman.

Speaking at the press conference held in the afternoon to announce the Cabinet’s decision, Minister of Economic Development, Mohamed Saeed said the government started discussions for a free trade agreement with China in 2014, after Maldives graduated from a least developed country to a developing country in 2011 – to cope with challenges facing Maldivian economy after imposition of duty on fish products exported from Maldives.