Four Designated Ports Permitted for Maldives Exports – Mundra, Tuticorin, Nhava Sheva Sea Ports and ICD Tughlakabad

· India Imposes Fresh Port Restrictions on Export of Essential Commodities to Maldives

India on Tuesday has imposed fresh restrictions on the export of prohibited or restricted essential commodities to Maldives.

According to the notification from the Director General of Foreign Trade, these commodities will only be permitted for export through four designated customs stations — Mundra Sea Port, Tuticorin Sea Port, Nhava Sheva Sea Port (JNPT), and ICD Tughlakabad.

Earlier on April 5, India had removed the restrictions on export of specified quantity of nine products including potatoes, onions, eggs, rice, wheat flour and sugar to Maldives for the current fiscal year.

Notably, the approved quantities of the essential commodities are the highest since the bilateral ties between the two nations came into effect in 1981.

The quota for river sand and= stone aggregates, critical for the construction industry in Maldives, has been increased by 25 percent to 1,000,000 metric tonnes.

Quotas for eggs, potatoes, onions, rice, wheat flour and dal (pulses) have been increased.

Moreover, last year, India continued to export rice, sugar and onions to the Maldives despite a worldwide ban on the export of these items from India.

"India remains strongly committed to supporting human-centric development in the Maldives, as part of its 'Neighbourhood First' policy," the statement by the Indian High Commission in Maldives then stated.

Notably, ties between India and the Maldives have been strained since President Muizzu assumed office, as he criticised New Delhi during and after the presidential polls.

[DGFT Notification No. 06/2023 dated 15 April, 2024]

Effect of this notification: Imposition of Port restrictions for exporting of essential commodities under Prohibited/restricted category to the Republic of Maldives during 2024-25, as per the quota notified under DGFT Notification No. 03/2023 dt. 05.04.2023, has been notified.

Subject: Imposition of Port restrictions on supply of Prohibited/Restricted essential commodities to the Republic of Maldives during 2024-25.

S.O.(E): In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended, read with paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023, the Central Government hereby incorporates following conditions in Notification No. 03/2023 dated 05.04.2024 for exporting of essential commodities to Maldives under bilateral trade agreement between Government of India and Government of Maldives:-

Export of essential commodities under Prohibited/restricted category to the Republic of Maldives during 2024-25 shall be permitted only through the following 4 Customs Stations: -

i. Mundra Sea Port

ii. Tuticorin Sea Port

iii. Nhava Sheva Sea Port (JNPT)

iv. lCD Tughlakabad

(Issued from F. No. Ol/91/171159/AM20/EC/E-20816)