Duty free zone, bonded warehouses open at Kulhudhuffushi port

Additional services, including a duty free zone, have been introduced at the HDh. Kulhudhuffushi port under a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) in May.

The services were launched on Tuesday at a ceremony held on the island. According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and MPL, the new services include a duty free zone and a bonded area for the storage of staple foods, basic goods and other items.

In addition, bonded warehouse services have been established at the port for northern resorts, while a goods checkpoint has been opened to facilitate the transport of goods to the provinces. A designated area for storing construction materials, such as stone and gravel, has also been created.

The Ministry and MPL said the measures will support traders and the public by reducing transportation costs and contributing to price stability in the northern atolls.

The statement further noted that the government plans to expand the existing land area of Kulhudhuffushi port to increase bonded storage services in the future.