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Government eyes alternative fish export markets, Maldives fish to
be labelled halal
By Mohamed Naahee | November 28th, 2013 | Category: Business | 23 comments

The government has said that the Maldives will look to alternative fish export markets,
including the middle-eastern and the Malaysian market, after withdrawing its application for
European Union (EU) duty-free status of imported fish from the country.
Earlier this November, the EU declined to extend the duty-free status on Maldivian fish
exports under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program a non-reciprocal
trade agreement extended to developing countries as the government had not ratified all
27 required international conventions.
During a press conference held by three cabinet ministers on Thursday afternoon, Foreign
Minister Dhunya Maumoon told the press that the decision to withdraw the application for
extension under the GSP+ program was because the government was informed by the EUs
Brussels mission that the application would possibly be rejected.
The matter with EUs relief of duty to Maldivian fisheries exports relate to our reservations
towards freedom of religion and other conventions. These reservations were taken because
it contradicts the fundamentals of Islam and our constitution, Dhunya explained.
If we get rejected that means the Maldives is getting a bad label. Such a rejection would be
informed to all European nations in the EU. So to avoid the dire circumstances of that,
which would affect the countrys reputation, we have decided to withdraw our application,
she added.
EU officials earlier confirmed to Minivan News that the transitional period of trade
concessions for the Maldives was due to expire as the Maldives from 2011 was not longer
considered a developing country.
The Maldives applied for an extension under the GSP+ program, a unilateral trade
concession given to a limited number of countries on the basis of good implementation of
human rights and labour conventions, officials said.
Officials stated that the Maldives did not qualify due to the countrys reservations to ICCPR
on religious freedom and CEDAW concerning womens rights.
Under the Maldivian constitution all citizens are required to be Sunni Muslim and the
practice of other religions is criminalised. Customs authorities forbid the import of religious
items and scan the baggage of tourists arriving at the airport.
Foreign Minister Dhunya however described the withdrawal as a silver lining, elaborating on
the fact that the countrys fisheries export should not be dependant upon just one single
market.
I make it clear that we are not running out of friends in the international community,
Dhunya said.
Counter Measures
In a bid to counter a the impact of the decision the government announced the formation of
a Fisheries Promotion Board (FPB) that will work on promoting Maldivian fisheries products
to none-EU markets.
I believe, if we can promote our products through the Fisheries Promotion Board, we can
overcome the difficulties we would face from this change of arrangements said the new
Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr MohamedShainee.
Secondly, the government announced that the Maldives fish products will be certified as a
Halal product in the future. Minister Shainee said that the government had been analysing
other possible markets including middle-eastern markets and the Malaysian market.
There are many markets around the world for us to export fisheries products. However,
one of the main difficulties in penetrating such markets earlier was that we did not have a
Halal certification on our products, Shainee said.
Today President Yameen has decided to give the legal mandate on issuing Halal
certification to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, said Minister Shainee.
Minister Shainee also said that, although the Maldives will not be entitled to the GSP+
incentives, the fish exports to Europe will not come to a halt.
Rather, he described it as a change in the price of fish rather than an obstruction to
exporting of Maldivian fisheries products.
It is just that we will from now onwards be selling fish in a very competitive market,
Shainee said.
When inquired about involving foreign investors in developing the Maldivian Fisheries
industry, Shainee said that the government did not wish to involve foreign investors as the
fisheries sector formed part of Maldives primary industries and privatizing such could have
detrimental effects on the economy.
The minister however said that that the government envisions diversification of the fisheries
industry and the introduction of new forms of fishing that would further boost the industry.
We want to diversify the market. There are varieties of sub-industries that we can develop
including Mari-culture. However the government has not yet decided whether to seek
foreign investments yet to develop those sub-industries, Shainee said.
Meanwhile, the Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed said that apart from friendly Islamic
countries and Malaysia, the government has held extensive talks with Russia and China
regarding a possible entry into their markets.