Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed has participated in discussions with the United States (US) Trade Representative Office concerning cooperation with Maldivian content creators.
The discussions took place during a meeting on the Maldives-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement held in Washington, D.C., during Minister Saeed's official visit to the US. The Minister co-chaired the meeting on behalf of the Maldives, while Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch co-chaired on behalf of the US Trade Representative Office. The meeting aimed to strengthen trade relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, Minister Saeed emphasised the importance of supporting digital creators in the Maldives and facilitating their access to major international platforms. He said that the discussions included duty cuts on fisheries products. He also expressed an interest in collaborating with both the US government and private investors.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has initiated the establishment of a creator economy in the Maldives, with ongoing efforts to create opportunities for digital creators. The government has decided to form the National Creative Economic Committee to develop a national strategy for a creative economy.
Minister Saeed has also launched trade talks during his US visit. Earlier in May, he said that efforts will be made to address challenges related to using PayPal services in the Maldives. E-wallet services like PayPal are crucial for content creators to monetize their work on various international platforms.