Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel met with members of the Turkish business community in Istanbul, Türkiye on Tuesday to explore new opportunities for strengthening economic relations between the Maldives and Türkiye.

The meeting was organised by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK) and chaired by Nail Olpak, Member of DEIK and Chariman of the Türkiye–Asia Pacific Business Council. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in key sectors such as tourism, renewable energy, investment, agriculture, housing, real estate, port development, and technology.

Speaking at the event, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed stated that the 'Economic Cooperation Agreement' signed in November 2023, along with the 'Preferential Trade Agreement' signed in November 2024, reflects the strengthening of economic ties between the Maldives and Türkiye. He reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to further advancing this partnership in the years to come.

Echoing this sentiment, Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel emphasised the strategic importance of the Maldives and reiterated the Government’s commitment to a thriving business environment.

To provide further context on the Maldives' investment landscape, Nuha Mohamed Riza, CEO of Invest Maldives, delivered a presentation outlining key investment opportunities across a range of sectors

Following the presentations, both Ministers engaged in direct discussions with Turkish business leaders to explore avenues for future trade, investment, and commercial partnerships.

The Government described the engagement as a significant step in advancing the Maldives–Türkiye economic partnership, particularly in sectors considered strategic for both nations' growth and development.