Monday
20th May 2024
Dhivehi Edition
MPL CEO Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim. | Photo: MPL
The Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) will soon start charging fees for vessels in dollars.
The CEO of MPL, Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim, said this in an interview with online newspaper Mihaaru.
According to Wajeeh, importers or consignees currently pay a fee in dollars, otherwise they have to pay 20 percent more if they pay in Rufiyaa.
He has stated that he does not believe this system is fair. Planes landing at the airport must pay a fee in dollars, with no option to pay in Rufiyaa. Therefore, he states that the best practice for MPL would be to charge fees in dollars from ships, as well.
Wajeeh said the ship agents and owners would be informed very soon. Some agents have already been informed and have agreed to pay the fee in dollars, he said.
He said the introduction of fees in dollars would ease the dollar's deficit and increase the amount of dollars entering banks.