Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has stated that Maldivian businesses stand to gain greatly from the collaboration with Alibaba.
Speaking at the opening of the From Maldives to Global Markets Forum, held in partnership with e-commerce giant Alibaba, the Minister described the event as a historic milestone for the Maldives. He noted that it signals the beginning of wider efforts to take Maldivian products to international markets, under the Free Trade Agreement between Maldives and China.
Minister Saeed highlighted that over 600 people took part in the workshop with Alibaba, including 250 established businesses. He added that the figure would rise further when including online participants.
According to the Minister, the chance for local products to be sold on Alibaba.com is a major breakthrough. He emphasized that Alibaba’s platforms link more than 40 million buyers across nearly 200 countries, with around 400,000 daily purchase inquiries.
“Businesses are not only selling products. They are also presenting Maldivian culture and identity to the world,” said the Minister.
He further noted that the workshop provided practical training on product preparation for international markets, logistics, and other key areas. More than 600 participants joined the From Maldives to Global Markets Forum, which was held as part of President Muizzu’s pledge to enable Maldivians to open seller accounts on leading global e-commerce platforms—helping local businesses earn income and access worldwide markets with greater ease.
