The Government of Japan has signed an additional agreement to provide extra scholarship opportunities to the Maldives, in addition to the visa agreement.
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa made a statement at a special ceremony held at the foreign ministry yesterday, following the agreements exchanged between the two countries during his official visit to the Maldives.
One of the agreements signed between the governments of Maldives and Japan is on visa-free entry for diplomatic and official passport holders from both countries for a period of 90 days. The second agreement aims to provide additional opportunities this year under the Japanese-funded Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship program.
According to the foreign ministry, 10 Maldivian students have already started courses in Japan under the scholarship programme. Furthermore, an additional 6 Maldivian students will be given the opportunity to go to Japan this year under the same programme.
The ministry has also said that the Japanese government will be allocating approximately USD 858,000 (122 million yen) for the additional scholarships.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid, said that this is the second time the Japanese Foreign Minister has visited the Maldives. He also remarked that Japan has always shared close ties with the Maldives and expressed gratitude to Japan for the economic and social assistance it has provided to the country over the past 50 years.
The minister said that important discussions were also held on cooperation in the field of maritime security, climate change, and issues of mutual interest in the international arena.
During the ceremony, Minister Hayashi said that with the visa agreement signed, work will be carried out to ensure visa facilitation for citizens of both countries traveling on ordinary passports in the near future. He also detailed that Japan will always provide assistance in the development of the Maldives.
Maldives established diplomatic relations with Japan on November 14, 1967. This year will mark the 56th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
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