Doing Business in the Maldives

Syllabus of the Subject: Doing Business in the Maldives. Male.

1. Introduction to the Republic of Maldives (Asia)
2. Maldivian Economy
3. Foreign Trade of the Maldives
4. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Maldives
5. Business Opportunities in the Maldives
   1. Tourism sector
   2. Fishing sector
6. Case Study: Villa Shipping and Trading Company. Mr Qasim Ibrahim
7. Access to the Maldivian Market
8. Business Plan for the Maldives

The objectives of the subject “Foreign Trade and Doing Business in the Republic of Maldives” are the following:

1. To analyse the Maldivian economy and foreign trade
2. To evaluate the business opportunities in the Republic of Maldives
3. To explore the Maldives' trade relations with the country of the student
4. To know Maldives' Free Trade Agreements
5. To examine the profile of the Maldivian Companies
6. To develop a business plan for the Maldivian Market

Sample of the subject - Doing Business in the Maldives:

Description of the Subject (Online Learning): Doing Business in the Maldives.

The Republic of Maldives.

Tourism and fishing sector: 40% of the Maldivian GDP

1. Maldivian Population: 350,000.
2. 79% under thirty-five years of age
3. Literacy rate: 98%
4. Maldivian capital: Male
5. Maldivian official language: Dhivehi (Thaana Script), the majority of the Maldivians speaks English
6. More than 1,190 Islands
7. Tropical climate
8. Independence: 1968 (United Kingdom)
9. Sunni Islam is the official religion
10. Neighbouring countries (by Sea): India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Seychelles

The Maldives belongs to the Central Eurasian Economic Area (Islamic Civilisation).

Maldivian Economy.

1. The Maldivian GDP growth of 7% last twenty years
2. Main economic sectors: tourism and fishing (40% of GDP)
3. Total imports: 60% of Maldivian GDP
4. Maldivian Petroleum: 31% of the total imports
5. Maldivian Currency: Rufiyaa
6. Special Economic Zones
7. Tecent investments (FDI): Hilton, Four Seasons, Club Med, KPMG, and Price Waterhouse
8. The largest port: Male. Future Port of Thilafushi
9. The Maldives has not mineral resources
10. Risk of natural disasters
11. Effects of the Asian tsunami (2004): near 62% of GDP

International Trade of the Maldives.

1. Maldivian merchandise exports (% of GDP): 23%
2. Maldivian Merchandise imports (% of GDP): 23.6%
3. Exports of services (% of GDP): 4.4%
4. Imports of services (% of GDP): 1.4%
5. Maldivian FDI Inflows (% of GDP): 1.3%
6. Top Maldivian export markets: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Bangladesh
7. Top Maldivian import suppliers: China, Russia, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Turkey

The Maldives has preferential access (Free Trade Agreements)...

1. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India
2. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
3. South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)
4. Asian Clearing Union (ACU)

The Maldives is a member of...

1. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
2. Islamic Development Bank
3. World Customs Organisation
4. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
5. Asian Development Bank (ADB)
6. Boao Forum for Asia
7. Maldives-Middle East (AMED)
8. Africa-Asia Strategic Partnership (NAASP)

(c) EENI- Business School & Hispano-African University of International Business