The Maldives government on Thursday said it hoped to broaden trade links with Sri Lanka and has invited Sri Lankan firms to invest in development projects in Maldives.

"We are opening big projects for international bidding, such as airport development, housing, hospitals and renewable power projects," Maldivian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Zahiya Zareer, said in a meeting with Sri Lanka's Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

"Even now there are big Sri Lankan companies operating in Maldives and we would like other interesting companies to bid for various projects," she added.

Zareer was also of the view that Sri Lanka and Maldives should look to build more commercial ties, moving away from the traditionally traded goods between the two nations, such as fruits, vegetables and fisheries.

Education and health services were discussed as potential areas that could be further developed.

During discussions, it was revealed that more than 5,000 Sri Lankans are working in Maldives, mainly in the tourism sector, while over 10,000 Maldivian nationals are living in Sri Lanka for various purposes such as education.

(Xinhua)