Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for more than 90 per cent of economic activity in the Maldives, and President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration has pledged to shape policies that promote growth across all business sectors, with particular emphasis on SMEs.
One of the key challenges faced by small businesses has been the lack of access to reliable platforms for selling products. To address this, the government has enabled Maldivian entrepreneurs to sell their goods on Alibaba, one of the world’s largest international e-commerce platforms.
The initiative began with a workshop conducted in collaboration with Alibaba, providing local entrepreneurs with guidance on how to market and sell their products through the platform.
Following this, the government-owned Business Centre Corporation’s (BCC) Authentic Maldives programme officially launched an online store on Alibaba on 17 December. According to BCC, the store enables more than 400 registered suppliers to showcase and sell authentic Maldivian products to a global audience.
Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed described the launch as a significant milestone in expanding opportunities for local businesses, empowering entrepreneurs and promoting Maldivian products internationally. He added that the initiative also demonstrates the tangible benefits of the China–Maldives Free Trade Agreement.
The Minister said the move reflects President Muizzu’s broader commitment to promoting digital trade, diversifying the economy and strengthening international partnerships.
The government has also set a target of increasing the contribution of the skills economy to 15 per cent of gross domestic product. As part of these efforts, the largest National Productivity Exhibition was held this year to support SME development and skills enhancement. Officials said these initiatives align with the government’s long-term vision of achieving developed nation status by 2040.