Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed will be summoned to the Parliament's Economic Committee to clarify information regarding the Maldives' Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China.
At Wednesday's committee meeting, the FTA and the plans for its implementation were discussed. Hithadhoo South MP Ibrahim Nazil said it was important to clarify the information regarding the FTA directly through the Economic Ministry. He, therefore, moved to summon Economic Minister Saeed and senior officials of the ministry to the committee, a motion that was supported by Hoarafushi MP Ali Moosa, and passed by a majority.
The FTA between the Maldives and China came into force in January this year. Although the agreement was signed during the administration of former President Abdullah Yameen, and approved by the Parliament in 2017, the agreement was not implemented during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The government expects the agreement to increase trade between Maldives and China to $1 billion.