Customs: Ban on Israeli products will be enforced next week

Commissioner General of Maldives Customs Service Ahmed Mohamed has said that the ban on the import of Israeli products to the Maldives will be enforced next week.

Ahmed Mohamed made this remark in response to a question by a reporter, at a ceremony held to sign an agreement for the construction of a new Customs Building in Hanimaadhoo in Haa-Dhaalu Atoll.

“Customs has already set up guidelines in relation to this issue. The ban on import of Israeli products to Maldives will be implemented, hopefully, next week. The government has now announced its policy on banning Israeli products in the Maldives. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Development, and Customs will work together to establish procedures, to put an end to this.”

He said that products with Israel as the “country of origin”, as well as products that go through any port in Israel en route to the Maldives will not be allowed in the Maldives.

Ahmed Mohamed added that according to Customs records, products worth about MVR 9 million were imported last year, and products worth about MVR 3 million have been imported this year to the Maldives from Israel.

The government announced earlier this week that it had dissolved three agreements with Israel, and that discussions are ongoing to prohibit the import of Israeli products to Maldives.