Maldives seeks to broaden trade links with Sri Lanka

The Maldives government on Thursday said it hoped to broaden trade links with Sri Lanka and invited Sri Lankan firms to invest in development projects in Maldives.

“We are opening big projects for international bidding, such as airport development, housing, hospitals and renewable power projects,” said Zahiya Zareer, Maldivian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Even now there are big Sri Lankan companies operating in Maldives and we would like other companies to bid for various projects,” she said in a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Zareer also said Sri Lanka and Maldives should look forward to build more commercial ties, moving away from the traditionally traded goods between the two nations, such as fruits, vegetables and fisheries.

Education and health services were discussed as potential areas that could be further developed. -Agencies

--IANS