Maldives (Commonwealth Union)_ The Maldivian government has partnered with Alibaba.com to help local firms and entrepreneurs connect with global markets, marking a significant step toward increasing foreign trade. The program intends to provide hands-on training and grant access to one of the world’s largest online commerce platforms. To begin, an online workshop was organized in the Nasandhura Palace Hotel, with over 700 participants, both in-person and virtual. The event was a collaboration between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Alibaba.com, and the Business Center Corporation. The intent was to prepare Maldivian businesses with the skills and information needed to thrive in international markets.
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The training focused on how to set up seller accounts, how to sell market products effectively, and how to use Alibaba’s powerful e-commerce tools to track trends and reach more customers. It is part of the government’s wider push to make the creative and digital economy a stronger contributor to the country’s GDP, with a target of 15% in the coming years. Speaking at the opening of the event, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed called it a historic moment for the Maldives. “We are building digital bridges that will carry Maldivian creativity to every corner of the world,” he said. “This partnership combines the opportunities under the China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement with Alibaba’s vast global network.”
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According to Minister Saeed, the event attracted a wide range of participants, from small businesses and startups to banks, logistics providers, and freight companies. This strong turnout, he said, shows how quickly interest in digital commerce is growing across the Maldives. He also emphasized that this partnership delivers on a key government promise: giving Maldivians access to major e-commerce platforms and expanding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow beyond the local market.
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State Minister for Economic Development and Trade Abdulla Siyaz echoed those views, calling the opportunity for Maldivian businesses to list on Alibaba a major milestone. He said the move could significantly expand the country’s footprint in digital trade, connecting Maldivian products and services with customers around the world. Experts from Alibaba led the day’s workshops, offering practical, step-by-step assistance to local entrepreneurs who were just starting out. Among the topics discussed were setting up and managing seller accounts, enhancing product listings, using advertising tools, and understanding how artificial intelligence can help with evaluating trends and consumer behavior.
During their program, in addition to product development, they also discussed logistics, possible funding sources, and ways to reduce the cost of shipping products globally to the buyer. Alibaba currently operates in more than 200 countries, and the platform includes more than 5,900 product categories, which provide a key channel for local sellers wanting to form new markets. Officials think this is just the beginning. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is also exploring similar relationships with large platforms in conjunction with a broader national initiative to diversify the economy and help create strong digital commerce presences. The development of digital commerce aligns with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu‘s economic agenda, which calls for a focus on digital transformation and increasing economic sectors beyond tourism.
There are currently more than 400 registered and active online vendors in the Maldives, and this number is expected to expand very rapidly as more businesses use global platforms like Alibaba. As the government is looking to create these global channels, they are hoping to improve visibility, competitiveness, and access to Maldivian products and services in the global marketplace and create routes for continued economic growth and resilience in a growing digital economy.
