Mr. Erhan Çelik, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nobel Companies Group, announced that he has received an offer from Major General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, Ambassador of the Maldives to Ankara, to serve as the Honorary Consul of the Maldives. Mr. Çelik stated that the offer was “a great honor” for him and expressed his gratitude to those who contributed to the process, especially President of the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Within the scope of the honorary consulship offer, Mr. Çelik said he aims to contribute to strengthening the friendly relations and commercial ties between Türkiye and the Maldives, both through the group companies he represents and on a personal level. He emphasized that he will make greater efforts to increase the rapprochement between the peoples of the two countries, develop economic relations, and support new collaborations.
Among the recent notable developments in the Maldives’ diplomatic representation in Türkiye is the appointment of Major General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef as Ambassador to Türkiye by President of the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on July 3, 2024. Official sources also state that Latheef is the first resident Maldivian Ambassador appointed to Türkiye. Ambassador Latheef officially began his duties on August 29, 2024, by presenting his letter of credence to President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
President of the Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took office on November 17, 2023. This period points to a new framework in which diplomatic representation is strengthened and contacts increase in the Maldives’ bilateral relations with Türkiye.
According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, the trade volume between Türkiye and the Maldives was recorded at USD 28.76 million in 2022, and announced at USD 27.31 million in the first 10 months of 2023. The same source emphasizes the decisive role of tourism in the Maldivian economy, and also notes that Turkish Airlines launched Istanbul–Malé flights as of November 24, 2012, and that services continue with seven flights per week.
With Mr. Erhan Çelik’s honorary consulship offer, it is aimed that economic and institutional contacts between the two countries will become more visible, and that links in trade, tourism, and the business world will be supported through more structured channels. After the official stages of the process are completed, the scope of the role and the areas of activity are expected to be clarified.