The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the Maldives and Türkiye is expected to come into force within the next two months, Economic Development and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed has announced.

The agreement, signed on 4 November last year, will take effect once it is approved by Türkiye’s parliament.

Speaking on State media, Minister Saeed said the ratification process is expected to be completed within one or two months. He added that once implemented, goods imported under the agreement will carry zero duty.

As part of the PTA, significant tariff concessions have been secured for the Maldivian fisheries sector, providing fish exporters with new opportunities to access and expand in the Turkish market. According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the agreement will grant zero-duty exports for 39 key products, many of which previously faced tariffs of up to 60 percent, and major concessions for an additional 103 products.

In a similar effort to expand market access, the Maldives implemented a free trade agreement with China on 1 January 2025. The arrangement provides Maldivian exporters with preferential access to the Chinese market, further diversifying the country’s trade partnerships.