President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the high tariffs imposed on fish exported from the Maldives to European countries present challenges in competing within the European market.
The President made these remarks while speaking during a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
During the meeting, both leaders praised the strong and robust relationship between the European Union and the Maldives, expressing their desire to further strengthen political ties between the two sides.
In this meeting, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu presented the current administration's development agenda and highlighted key areas where the Maldives requires additional assistance for its development. In this regard, he noted the challenges faced in competitively introducing Maldivian fish products to the EU market due to the 24 percent tariff imposed on tuna exported from the Maldives to the European Union, and shared his concerns regarding the matter. Furthermore, he highlighted the efforts being made by the Maldives to mitigate the damages caused by climate change in his remarks.
The President of the European Commission, in her remarks, assured that the Maldives would receive the full cooperation of the Commission. She also praised the initiatives and policies undertaken by the Maldives regarding climate change, and noted that assistance would be provided in efforts to mitigate climate change.
The meeting concluded with a renewed hope to further strengthen ties between the two sides and to continue working together collaboratively in the future.
