Amendment proposed to prohibit foreign-owned duty-free shops at airports

An amendment has been proposed by Mohamed Nasheed, South Kulhudhuffushi member of parliament, to the bill on business registration. The amendment proposes prohibition of foreign-owned businesses operating duty-free shops at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport and other International Airports of Maldives.

The amendment is proposed for section (4.5) (a) of the business registration bill, and states that duty-free shops at international airports shall not be owned by foreigners. It also states that customs warehouses, bonded warehouses or any other place used to store cargo, which are run by international airports, cannot be used to manage businesses. Any service relating to cargo clearance shall not be associated with foreign-owned businesses, proposes Nasheed.

The Business Registration Bill proposed by Ali Riza, parliamentary group member of MDP, states under section (4.5) (a) that while foreign businesses are allowed to operate, they should not be in areas catering to the everyday needs of Maldivians. High-end products, which may improve the standard of living in Maldives, and not damage local businesses, can be carried by foreigners.

Since the Business Registration Bill had been reviewed by the Economic Committee and was ready to be sent to the Parliament when Nasheed proposed the amendment, the vote for the amendment will be addressed during the Parliament session. Parliament rule (81) (b) allows proposal of amendments to bills already reviewed by the Committees.

This amendment results in the prohibition of foreign-owned businesses operating duty free shops at the Ibrahim Nasir International airport, which is run by at Indian company GMR. It also limits general operation of foreign-owned businesses in Maldives.