A Chinese company has commenced canning Maldivian fish products, marking what officials have hailed as a significant achievement for the nation's fisheries industry.

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam announced the development in a post on X, revealing that Weihai QZ Blusea Foods Co. Ltd. has started canning fish sourced from the Maldives.

The initiative is being implemented under the Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which allows Maldivian fishery exports to enter the Chinese market without import duties.

Describing the development as a successful step forward, Minister Shiyam emphasized its alignment with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s broader strategy to diversify the fisheries sector, open new export markets, and promote sustainable, high-value fish products on the global stage.

As part of the initiative, sample canned products were presented to the Maldivian Ambassador to China, Fazeel Najeeb.

The Maldives-China FTA offers duty-free access for 298 categories of fishery products and 7,897 types of value-added goods, providing Maldivian exporters a major competitive edge in the Chinese market.

Previously, a significant portion of fish caught in Maldivian waters was exported to Thailand for canning and further processing before reaching global markets.

The new collaboration with Weihai QZ Blusea Foods is expected to streamline the process, enhance product value, and boost visibility for Maldivian fish in a key international market.