Trade with Japan (2015)
Import from Maldives: 1.26 billion yen (fishes (tuna, etc.))
Export to Maldives: 2.14 billion yen (ship engine, car)
General Guide to Investing in the Maldives
The Government of Maldives welcomes foreign investments in the Maldives through four possible routes:
- Foreign Direct Investments
- Unsolicited Proposal Policy (UPP)
- Investment Funds at Maldives Fund Management Corporation
- Participation in Government tenders
‘Invest Maldives’ (https://www.trade.gov.mv/page/investment-promotion) under the purview of Maldives’ Ministry of Economic Development is the government agency entrusted with promoting, regulating and licensing foreign investments in the country.
The Embassy of Maldives in Tokyo facilitates foreign investment and trade in the Maldives for potential investors in Japan and South Korea through its commercial diplomacy unit. Please direct all inquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Registration of a business as an FDI
- Foreign investors can submit a registration of a business as a FDI through the following process:
- Investors can submit the required documents to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. via email.
- Some of the documents that potential investors can refer to:
- FI application form
- FDI policy 2020
- Financial Credibility letter template
- Doing Business Guide 2019 (latest published)
- To submit proposal under the unsolicited proposal's policy, attaching the Unsolicited Proposal Policy and the application form
- Details of the process, along with the required documents can be viewed at the Business Portal : https://business.egov.mv/Home/Investments
Proposal under the Unsolicited Proposal's Policy (UPS)
Under UPS, the policy frame work offers private investors to submit their investment proposals to the Government at their own initiations.
The following documents are required:
- Unsolicited proposal Policy (USP) application form (Annex 1)
- Financial Credibility letter
- Constitutional documents of the proponent (Registration certificate, Articles of Association, Memorandum of Association)
- Latest audited financial accounts
- If the proposed project is for social housing, and the form of finance is through a bank, a term sheet duly executed by a financial institution licensed by the central bank of the respective jurisdiction
- Applications and proposals can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Further details are available at https://business.egov.mv/Home/Investments
- Link to important documents:
Annex 1: Application form (submission of unsolicited projects)
Annex 2: Sample Template of Letter of Financial Credibility
General Information:
- Link to Additional details at:
- Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA): https://mira.gov.mv/Default_Eng.aspx
- Maldives Customs Service: https://www.customs.gov.mv/
- Maldives Immigration: https://immigration.gov.mv/business-2/
Investment Funds at Maldives Fund Management Corporation
MFMC offers multiple funds for key focus areas, seeking to assist local businesses to access financing for growth, in the form of both equity and structured debt in major sectors such as tourism, renewable energy and infrastructure.
See the Maldives Fund Management Corporation for details.
Participation in Government tenders:
- Link to: Invitation for bids and additional information regarding the IBF
