Ref: 2024/PR/300
The Government of Maldives and the Government of Japan sign the Exchange of Notes for the Project for Disaster Resilience Enhancement in Malé Island at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Moosa Zameer and the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Takeuchi Midori signed the Exchange of Notes.
Under the Japanese Economic and Social Development Programme, this Exchange of Notes signifies the first phase of a comprehensive project aimed at renovating the Malé seawall. The assistance, amounting to 20 million Japanese Yen, (USD 140,000) will support the design phase of the seawall renovation, which is critical to the safety and resilience of the capital city.
During the ceremony, Minister Zameer highlighted the significance of this initiative in safeguarding the Maldives from the increasing threat of rising sea levels and other climate-related disasters. He emphasised that the project is yet another testament to the enduring friendship between the Maldives and Japan, ensuring continued protection for future generations. Referring to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Minister Zameer underscored that Male’ City and its inhabitants were protected significantly from the destructive disaster by the seawall constructed with the generous assistance from the Government of Japan in the 1990s.
Minister Zameer expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for their generous assistance, mentioning the close and friendly relations between the two countries. He noted that projects like this underscore Japan’s ongoing role as a key partner in the Maldives’ development journey.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, Ministry of Finance, the Embassy of Japan, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
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