The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade announced on Sunday that the newly unveiled online unified platform, Tradian, will feature a range of services from the Maldives Customs and Maldives Ports Limited (MPL). The platform was officially introduced by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef on September 3, 2024.

Tradian is designed to be a comprehensive, integrated platform consolidating all trade-related information, processes, and permits. It enables traders and logistics providers to electronically submit trade and transport regulatory documents from a single-entry point to all connected facilities.

The initiative, part of the Maldives National Single Window (MNSW) project, was developed by the Ministry of Economic Development in collaboration with Tradenet Maldives and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The platform was implemented in close coordination with Maldives Customs and other cross-border regulatory agencies.

The initial phase of Tradian includes a variety of services:

1. Tradenet Maldives Corporation: System operation
2. Maldives Customs Service: Vessel registration, estimated time of arrival (ETA), sea manifest, vessel declaration
3. Ministry of Defense: Import permits for chemicals, flares, and fireworks
4. Ministry of Economic Development and Trade: Pork and liquor import permits
5. Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure: Construction material import permits
6. Maldives Ports Limited (MPL): Vessel registration, ETA, sea manifest, vessel declaration, cargo discrepancy, gate exit
7. Ministry of Tourism: Duty exemption
8. Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation: Vessel registration, ETA, vessel declaration
9. Private Sector: Electronic delivery order (eDO)

Additionally, vessel declaration services from Maldives Immigration, Port Health, and the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) will be available in the initial phase.

Tradian is set to officially begin offering its services from November 1, 2024, which will also mark the cutoff date for transitioning from existing systems. The second phase of the platform, which commenced in late August 2024, is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of the following year. This phase will integrate services from 19 different government agencies and 17 separate ICT systems into the platform.

The introduction of Tradian aims to enhance efficiency and streamline the process for businesses engaged in trade and transport, fostering a more connected and transparent regulatory environment in the Maldives.