MUMBAI (Reuters) – India has allowed restricted exports of important commodities, together with sugar, wheat, rice, and onions, to the Maldives, the federal government stated on Friday, at the same time as ties between Male and New Delhi remained tense amid rising Chinese affect.

India, a number one exporter of rice, sugar and onions, has imposed varied curbs on exports of those meals commodities to maintain a lid on native costs forward of normal election.

Shipments of those commodities within the 2024/25 finiancial yr which began on April 1 to Maldives “will be exempted from any existing or future restriction/prohibition on export,” the federal government stated in a notification.

The South Asian nation has allowed exports of 124,218 metric tons of rice, 109,162 tons of wheat flour, 64,494 tons of sugar, 21,513 metric tons of potatoes, 35,749 tons of onions, and 427.5 million eggs to the Maldives.

India has additionally allowed exports of 1 million tons every of stone mixture and river sand.

The Maldives, which has historically had shut ties to India, is pivoting in the direction of Beijing since new President Mohamed Muizzu was elected in October on a promise to finish the nation’s pro-India stance.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Kim Coghill)

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