Amidst Troop Withdrawal Row, India Renews Essential Commodities Quota For Maldives

In a recent development, India has renewed the quota to allow the export of essential commodities to the Maldives for the year 2024-25.

Announcing the move through a post on social media platform X, the Indian High Commissioner said that this was being done "under a unique bilateral mechanism" under which the quotas for each of these items have been revised upwards.

"The approved quantities are the highest since this arrangement came into effect in 1981," the notice by the mission said.

Expressing gratitude for this gesture, Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer took to social media to thank India, particularly External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, for facilitating the renewal of the quota.

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"I sincerely thank EAM @DrSJaishankar and the Government of #India for the renewal of the quota to enable #Maldives to import essential commodities from India during the years 2024 and 2025," Zameer wrote.

"This is truly a gesture which signifies the longstanding friendship, and the strong commitment to further expand bilateral trade and commerce between our two countries," he added.

In response, Jaishankar reiterated India's unwavering commitment to its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policies.

The renewal of the quota comes amid a diplomatic row between India and the Maldives, which surfaced last year following contentious remarks by Maldivian officials and demands for troops withdrawal made by President Mohamed Muizzu.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has reportedly said that all Indian troops stationed in the country will be withdrawn by 10 May.

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