Business in the Maldives

EENI- School of International Business

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

1. Introduction to the Republic of Maldives (Asia)
2. The Maldivian Economy
3. The 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 student's country
4. To know Maldives' Free Trade Agreements
5. To examine the profile of 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 (Doing Business in the Maldives).

The Republic of Maldives.

Tourism and fishing sector: 40% of the Maldivian GDP

1. The Maldivian Population: 350,000.
2. 79% under thirty-five years of age
3. Literacy rate: 98%
4. The Maldivian capital: Male
5. The Maldivian official language: Dhivehi (Thaana Script), the majority of the Maldivians speaks English
6. More than 1190 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 of the Islamic Civilisation.

The Maldivian Economy.

1. The Maldivian GDP growth of 7% last twenty years
2. The main economic sectors: tourism and fishing (40% of GDP)
3. The total imports: 60% of Maldivian GDP
4. Petroleum: 31% of the total imports
5. The Maldivian Currency: Rufiyaa
6. Special Economic Zones
7. The recent investments (FDI): Hilton, Four Seasons, Club Med, KPMG, and Price Waterhouse
8. The largest port: Male. Future port: 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

The International Trade of the Maldives.

1. The Maldivian merchandise exports (% of GDP): 23%
2. Merchandise imports (% of GDP): 23,6%
3. The exports of services (% of GDP): 4,4%
4. Imports of services (% of GDP): 1,4%
5. FDI Inflows (% of GDP): 1.3%
6. Top export markets: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Bangladesh
7. Top 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 Social Commission Asia-Pacific (ESCAP)
5. Asian Development Bank (ADB)
6. Boao Forum for Asia
7. Maldives-Middle East (AMED)
8. Africa-Asia Strategic Partnership (NAASP)