The government has postponed the mandatory adoption of 'Tradian', a national single-window trade platform designed to streamline import and export procedures. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade announced the delay on Sunday, stating that additional testing is necessary before the platform can serve as the sole medium for import and export transactions.
Initially set for implementation on 1 June, Tradian was developed to centralise access to trade services from multiple agencies through a single online portal. Government officials describe the initiative as integral to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's broader effort to simplify business operations for Maldivian entrepreneurs and modernise the nation's trade infrastructure.
Designed in consultation with economic experts and industry stakeholders, the platform seeks to improve efficiency and accessibility in digital trade facilitation. Key entities such as Maldives Ports Ltd. (MPL) and the Maldives Customs Service have already begun offering services through Tradian.
The transition, however, remains incomplete. Despite the platform's ongoing use, the economic development ministry stressed that further testing is needed to ensure seamless integration with existing trade-related systems. Government officials view this process as critical in preventing technical disruptions once Tradian becomes the exclusive channel for conducting import and export procedures.
For now, the transition is on hold. The ministry confirmed that the requirement for businesses to use Tradian exclusively, originally set to take effect today, has been deferred indefinitely. Until a revised timeline is established, the ministry stated that import and export services will continue to be accessible through existing channels. The ministry stated that an updated implementation date will be announced once preparations for the transition are complete.
At the centre of this initiative is TradeNet Maldives Corporation Ltd., the entity overseeing Tradian's development and deployment. Government officials maintain that beyond streamlining operations, the platform is expected to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and improve the Maldives' international trade processes. First introduced in September 2024, Tradian remains a key component of the government's broader digitalisation agenda.