Secretary for Commerce of Maldives High Commission Visit SMA

The location of Maldives.

The first Secretary for Commerce, Maldives High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, Mr Ibrahim Naeem paid a visit to SMA at 2.00 pm on 7 November 2007 (Wednesday). Mr Ibrahim was entertained by Dato¡¯ Hii Ngo Sing, the President; Mr. Lai King Min, the Vice-President; Mr. Joseph Lau Ka Hoo, the Secretary-General and Mr. Ben Tien Khiong Chin, the Assistant Treasurer.

Photo 1
Mr Ibrahim Naeem (centre), the first Secretary for Commerce, Maldives High Commission, Kuala Lumpur paid a visit to SMA. He was giving a briefing on business of Maldives.

Photo 2
Dato' Hii Ngo Sing (2nd left), the President was presenting a SMA Newsletter to Mr Ibrahim Naeem. Also seen (from left) were Mr. Joseph Lau Ka Hoo, the Secretary-General; Mr. Ben Tien Khiong Chin, the Assistant Treasurer and Mr. Lai King Min, the Vice-President.

Photo 3
Mr Ibrahim Naeem (2nd right) was presenting a memento to Dato` Hii.

INTRODUCTION OF MALDIVES

The Republic of Maldives or Dhivehi Rajje¡¯, (the land of the Dhivehi people) is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean. Its closest neighbors are India and Sri Lanka. The Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 to 1965 and was independence from Britain on 26 July 1965.

The islands of the Maldives lie across the equator between 7¡ã 6¡¯ 30¡± north and 0¡ã 41¡¯ 48¡± south and between 72¡ã 32¡¯ 30¡± and 73¡ã 45¡¯ 54¡± east of Greenwich. The small islands are grouped into 26 natural atolls and cover an area of about 118,000 sq km of which total land area is about 298 sq km. The atolls, stretch from north to south for about 764 kilometres and spread to 128 kilometres at the widest point. The equator cuts across the country between the southernmost atolls, laying Addu and Fuamulaku to the south and Huvadhu Atoll to the north. The closest neighbours of Maldives are India (595 km) to the north, Sri Lanka (670 km) to the northeast and the Chagos group of islands (550 km) directly to the south. Even though the archipelago consists of 26 natural atolls they are divided into 20 administrative units.

The approximately 1190 islands that make up the Maldives are small and low, where 199 islands are inhabited. The Population is about 270,000. The Capital of Maldives is Male'. The language used in the Maldives is called Dhivehi. English is used widely in education and commerce. Sunni Islam is the main religion in Maldives.

The Maldives is not blessed with many natural resources except for her beauty and the riches of the sea. In fact, 99% of its territory consists of water. Hence it is not surprising that tourism and fishing are the major industries of the country. Agriculture is practised only on a limited scale, as the land is not very fertile. The diversity of the flora is limited to a few tropical fruit and vegetables, root crops and others. The essentials and consumer goods are not manufactured because of the lack of resources. almost everything required for living has to be imported

Photo 1
A resort at Maldives.

Photo 2
Underwater World.

Photo 3
Swimming pool among coconut trees..

MALDIVES ¨C MALAYSIA TRADE

Owing to the heavily import oriented nature of the Maldives¡¯ economy, the merchandise trading between Maldives and Malaysia is tilted heavily in favour of Malaysia. Total imports to Maldives from Malaysia amounted USD 53.4 million in 2005 while the total exports are insignificantly small at less than USD 40 thousand.

Malaysia is currently the 4th largest source of imports to the Maldives. The other major sources are Singapore, UAE, India and Sri Lanka.

Maldives¡¯ exports to Malaysia consist of limited quantities of frozen, fresh and processed fish and other marine exports such as sea cucumber.

Maldives¡¯ imports from Malaysia consist of food; beverage; cable; electrical appliance; furniture; wooden product; fiberglass; glass product; garment; shoe; chemical product; paper product; metal product; concrete products and other construction material etc.

For further information, please contact:

(1)
High Commission of Maldives
Suite 07-01, Menara See Hoy Chan
374, Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21637244
Fax: 03-21647244
Email: mail@maldives.org.my
Website: www.maldives.org.my

(2)
Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
G. Viyafaari Hiyaa, Ameenee Magu, Male', 20-04, Republic of Maldives.
Tel: +960-3326634
Fax: +960-3310233
Email: mncci@dhivehinet.net.mv
Website: www.mncci.com.mv

(3)
Maldives Assosiation of Construction Industry
PA Complex, (Ground Floor) Hilaalee Magu,
Male', Rep of Maldives
Tel: +960-3318660
Fax: +960-3318796
Email: maci@dhivehivehinet.net.mv
Website: www.maci.org.mv

The airport of Maldives.

Posted Date: 24 Aug 2008