The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has announced plans to establish dedicated storage facilities in the Male' area and Kulhudhuffushi City to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with affordable warehousing.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the ministry said the next two years will be focused on implementing special measures to promote SME growth. The initiative follows concerns raised by business owners during a meeting with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on December 17, where the lack of storage access in Male' and Kulhudhuffushi was highlighted as a key obstacle.
The ministry said it is working to provide concessions to SMEs and will announce further details of the implementation process in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
As part of broader efforts to improve logistics, the ministry will also monitor cargo clearance operations at Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) and strengthen cargo vessel services in the region.
Meanwhile, the ministry has registered room rental businesses that operate exclusively to accommodate Maldivians and work permit holders, resolving quota-related issues that had previously hindered operations.
ކުދި އަދި މެދު ފަންތީގެ ވިޔަފާރިތަކަށް ހާއްސަކޮށްގެން ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު މުއިޢްޒު ވަނީ 2026 -2027 އަކީ އެ ވިޔަފާރިތަކަށް ޙާއްސަ ލުއިތަކެއް ދެއްވާނޭ 2 އަހަރުގެ ގޮތުގައި ކަނޑައަޅުއްވާފައެވެ. އެހެންކަމުން، ސަރުކާރުން ކުރުމަށް ރާވާފައިވާ ގިނަ ކަންތައްތަކެއްގެ… pic.twitter.com/ag8RFkFHiY
— Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (@MoEDmv) December 30, 2025
During the meeting with business owners, several unresolved concerns were raised, most notably, the issue of unpaid government bills. Many businesses reported that they had not received payment for work completed more than a year ago, with some bills amounting to millions of Rufiyaa. Business owners requested that the government consider offsetting the outstanding payments against taxes owed.
The government has not disclosed the total amount owed but said the payments will be made before next Ramadan. This marks the third promised deadline for settling the dues, following earlier commitments to pay before last Ramadan, which were not fulfilled.