Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has stated that while demand for sea-to-air cargo services is on the rise, the government’s top priority is to regulate and promote the sector.
Minister Ameen was responding to reports in foreign media indicating that Bangladeshi garment factories are increasingly using the Maldives for exports.
In a social media post, Minister Ameen noted that the sea-to-air cargo service is expanding, with significant demand. He highlighted that the Maldives offers flights to numerous destinations across Europe and the Middle East, providing robust connections for cargo transport. The government is prioritising regulation of the sector to facilitate the expansion of these services, he added.
The sea-to-air cargo service was introduced by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) in March this year, with the first shipment dispatched in May. This hybrid service involves bringing goods by sea and transferring them to air cargo for rapid delivery. The model addresses the needs of regional businesses and industries, providing a fast and reliable freight service.
Demand for the service continues to grow, with seven airlines now participating and an expanding number of destination countries benefitting from the service.