Five Maldives–China MoUs signed across trade, fisheries and agriculture

Maldivian and Chinese institutions and companies have signed five Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, fisheries, agriculture and wider economic cooperation.

The agreements were exchanged on Wednesday during the China–Maldives Investment Cooperation Forum, held alongside Maldives Expo 2026.

Under one agreement, the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade will work with the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Commerce and Sanya Investment Promotion Bureau to strengthen economic cooperation and support commercial activities between the two sides.

A separate MoU between the Maldives National University and China Harbour Engineering Company will establish an agricultural demonstration centre focused on research, innovation and training.

Two agreements relate to fisheries exports. Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO) signed an MoU with SINOMACH Hainan Development Co., Ltd. to explore opportunities for exporting Maldivian frozen whole fish to China.

Horizon Fisheries also signed an agreement with SINOMACH Hainan covering the export of fish products.

State Trading Organisation (STO), meanwhile, signed an MoU with SINOMACH Hainan to facilitate imports of essential food items and general merchandise from China.

The forum brought together more than 100 participants, including representatives from over 40 Chinese companies, as businesses and institutions explored investment and commercial opportunities between the two countries.

The agreements come as economic ties between the Maldives and China expand under the China–Maldives Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 1 January 2025.

Between January 2025 and August 2026, the Maldives imported approximately USD 440 million worth of goods from China, of which around USD 124 million entered under the agreement.