Bypassing the traditional air shipment routes through India or Bangladesh, garment exporters have found the Maldives to be a cheaper as well as faster route.

Exporters say the traditional air shipment routes through Dhaka, Kolkata, Colombo or Singapore had either become too expensive or too slow

Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest garment producer, has opted to bypass India and ship its textiles to global markets through the Maldives, hurting the cargo revenue prospects of India’s airports and ports amid strained bilateral ties, reports Mint.

Readymade garment manufacturer A Plus Sweater Ltd had sent an RMG consignment to Chattogram Port from its Gazipur factory on eight covered vans on October 29 last year for shipment to Brazil.