The government of Japan has granted JPY 300 million (MVR 41 million) to the Maldivian government to develop the country’s health sector.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamed Asim had signed the grant assistance agreement, under the Japanese Economic and Social Development Cooperation Programme on behalf of the Maldivian government, while his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono signed on behalf of Japan.
The signing ceremony was held at the foreign affairs headquarters of Japan Friday morning.
Minister Asim had thanked the government of Japan for their support and continuous assistance to the Maldives, and said that the two countries enjoyed a close friendship based on mutual respect and understanding.
The Ambassador-designate of Maldives to Japan Ahmed Fazeel, the Director of the foreign ministry Adam Hamid, and several top delegates from Maldives had joined Dr Asim on his current visit to Japan.
While foreign ministry has confirmed that the grant would go in to advancing Maldives’ health sector, the details of the agreement have not been revealed yet.
The Maldivian government is currently building a 25-storey hospital – Dharumavantha Hospital – in the capital Male. The project was awarded to Singaporean company Chung Hwa, and the estimated cost of the construction of the impressive building is MVR 2.1 billion.
The Minister of Health Abdullah Nazim had stated that the President Abdulla Yameen's government aimed to "revolutionise" Maldives' health sector and that considerable changes would be brought to it this year.