The Maldives currently facilitates the export of goods from three countries through its sea-to-air cargo services, Ahmed Shareef, the Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of the Maldives State Shipping Company (MSS) has revealed.
The sea-to-air cargo service is a joint venture between the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the Maldives Customs Service, and MSS, where the Maldives acts as a transition hub to ensure the swift and timely air delivery of goods brought to the Maldives via sea.
Speaking on a programme on PSM News, Shareef said the sea-to-air cargo is a vital component of the government's efforts to expand and diversify the country's economy, and noted that the service is widely used globally as a resource to boost economies. Although the Maldives' sea-to-air cargo service is in its infancy, the outcomes of the service have been positive so far, he said.
'If we can further expand [this service], it will become an important contributor to increase the country's foreign currency revenue. The results so far are positive. We initially launched the service in partnership with Turkish Airlines and catered only to goods produced in Bangladesh. Since then, we have partnered with eleven airlines, and expanded our services to handle goods arriving from India and Sri Lanka as well,' he stated.
Statistics indicate that since the services' launch in May this year, the sea-to-air cargo services have injected over USD 3 million into the economy so far.