Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail says the India-Maldives direct cargo ferry will only carry goods bought by Maldivian importers.
In a tweet, the Minister said that the direct cargo ferry between the two neighbors provides the certainty of shipping between India and Maldives.
Fayyaz added that the only difference between the current cargo vessels and the direct cargo ferry is that the ferry would be scheduled and would allow easier trade.
He made the tweet in response to a media report in which a prominent local businessman said that the direct ferry service between the two countries would be detrimental to the Maldivian economy.
Speaking further to ‘The Press’, Minister Fayyaz said Maldivian businesses can reduce prices of goods imported from India and this includes trade worth MVR 4 billion.
The Economic Minister also said the in order to create decentralized productivity that caters to a large population, the country’s economy must be more accessible to others and that this ferry service would lay the foundation for such accessibility.
The direct ferry is set to carry goods worth MVR 4.47 million on its trip from India to the Maldives and this includes essential food items and medicines.
The cargo ferry had begun its maiden journey from India’s Tuticorin port yesterday and would travel to the Maldives via Cochi. Indian officials have said that the cargo ferry is expected to arrive in Male’ on the 29th of this month.
