More than 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses are expected to participate in Maldives Expo 2026, as the event expands its reach with new opportunities for local tourism promotion and international market connections. Running from 25 October to 2 November, the nine-day exhibition will feature seven districts, bringing together products, producers and services from across the country.
Business Centre Corporation (BCC) Managing Director Ibrahim Ziyau said participation has grown substantially, reflecting the expo’s development from a much smaller initiative launched 80 years ago to promote Maldivian businesses. This year’s programme will provide a broader platform for enterprises to present their work and explore commercial opportunities.
The competitive section has attracted 780 businesses, compared with 308 last year. Product registrations have also increased, with more than 6,000 already registered for this year’s event, up from 3,600 submitted in the previous edition. These figures point to strong interest among businesses seeking visibility through the exhibition.
According to Ziyau, a major change this year will be the way products are presented. Rather than displaying them solely under the names of the businesses that produce them, the expo will showcase products separately, allowing the producers behind them to be identified and promoted.
This approach places greater attention on individual products and the people responsible for creating them. For participating enterprises, it offers an opportunity to communicate the qualities of their work and help visitors discover producers whose offerings match their interests.
Among the most significant additions are the Visitor Economy District and the International Exhibitors District. Ziyau said these new components are intended to promote local tourism and strengthen connections between Maldivian businesses and overseas markets.
The Visitor Economy District will showcase islands offering local tourism services, alongside the experiences and services available in those communities. It introduces a dedicated promotional opportunity that was not available to the tourism sector at last year’s expo.
For local tourism businesses, the district offers a platform to present island destinations together with the services that shape a visitor’s stay. Bringing these offerings into the wider exhibition can also encourage connections between tourism operators and other local enterprises.
The International Exhibitors District will focus on introducing new business ideas and creating opportunities for Maldivian enterprises to connect with overseas markets. International participation is intended to broaden the commercial scope of the event, supporting dialogue and potential collaboration across borders.
Together, the two new districts extend the expo’s role beyond product display. They create space for destination promotion, business discovery and market engagement, while keeping local enterprises central to the event.
More than 1,000 businesses are expected to showcase their products across the seven districts, including participants in the competitive section. With increased registrations and an expanded programme, Maldives Expo 2026 is set to provide a substantial platform for promoting local production, strengthening business networks and exploring new avenues for growth.
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