Maldives and Japan have signed the Exchange of Notes for the construction phase of the Seawall Renovation Project under the “Project for Disaster Resilience Enhancement in Malé Island.”
At a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the Exchange of Notes was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives Dr Abdulla Khaleel, and the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan, and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina Akiko.
This Exchange of Notes, amounting to USD 10.5 million, will support the construction phase of the seawall renovation project.
During the Ceremony, Minister Khaleel highlighted the importance of the seawall surrounding Male’ City, and noted its significance as a lasting symbol of friendship between the countries. He recalled since its construction following the tidal surges of 1987, the seawall has become a defining feature of the capital city, and mentioned its vital role during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in protecting Male’ from destruction and loss of lives.
He also highlighted that the Exchange of Notes signed represents both the continuation of this critical project and the strengthening of the close partnership between the Maldives and Japan. As the Maldives marks the 60th anniversary of its Independence Day, and looks ahead to 60 years of diplomatic ties with Japan in 2027, Minister Dr Khaleel expressed confidence in further deepening cooperation in areas such as maritime security, regional stability, and trade. He reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and extended appreciation to the Government of Japan for its steadfast friendship.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Construction، Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Embassy of Japan, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).