Maldives is an independent chain of islands in the Northern Indian Ocean and South-west of Sri Lanka, at the Southernmost tip of India. The atolls comprise about 1,190 coral islands, 200 of which are inhabited. The tropical vegetation varies from grass and scrub to dense woods of fruit trees or coconut palms. The environment is warm and wet. The terrain is flat with some elevations. There is very little arable land and few forests, pastures and woodlands. The country has no permanent crops. The climate is hot and humid. Most of the area is subject to the South-west and North-east monsoons.

Maldives’ economy depends on fishing, shipping and tourism. Garment production, boat building, and handicrafts are the other main industries of the country. One of the major problems facing Maldives is a dwindling supply of fresh water and an inadequate sewage treatment. Despite physical limitations such as the lack of cultivated land irrigation, and unfavourable climatic conditions, several cash crops are grown of which the most important ones are cotton, coconut, breadfruit, mango, papaya, lime, banana, pumpkin and taro. Sugar cane, tobacco and tea are also grown for domestic consumption. Livestock is raised for both domestic and export markets.

GDP at Current Market Prices:	753.05 million US$ (2004)
Per Capita GDP:	2239.19 US$ (2004)
Share of Sectors in GDP:	7.68% Agriculture, 16.0% Industry, 63.0% Services, (2004)
Total Exports:	713.83 million US$ (2004)
Total Imports:	627.27 million US$ (2004)
Major Exports Items:	Canned fish, dried fish, frozen fish, apparel and clothing
Major Imports Items:	Machinery and transportation equipment, basic manufactures, food and animals, petroleum products
Major Trading Partners:	Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, UAE and France

Presidency

Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

Ministry of Planning and National Development

Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources

Ministry of Tourism

Ministry of Education

Maldives Monetary Authority