Maldives Customs Service has stated that a separate terminal will be established to provide carrier service as the number of imported goods to the Maldives increases.
Speaking to PSM News, Commissioner General at Customs Abdulla Shareef said that online businesses have witnessed a significant rise, leading to an increase in the number of packages being imported to the Maldives through carrier services. He said this upsurge in carrier-imported cargo has created challenges in clearing general cargo and carrier goods due to limited space in the air cargo area. He also said a separate terminal is currently under construction to cater specifically to carrier services, aiming to alleviate the difficulties posed by the growing demand for these services as a solution.
Additionally, Shareef highlighted that several proactive measures have been taken to expedite the clearance of goods arriving through carrier services. He noted that a dedicated carrier cargo unit has been established, with specific officers assigned to handle the operations within this unit. He also said that the carrier service has significantly improved in terms of speed and efficiency, facilitating faster processing of shipments compared to previous practices as a result of these efforts.
Customs has also conducted a Time Release Study (TRS) to expedite the clearance of goods imported into the Maldives and a positive change will be seen in the work being done to expedite the clearance of goods for next year. The study has been conducted in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), which will help identify any delays by the different institutions and identify areas for improvement.