Japan pledges USD 140,000 for Malé seawall renovation

Maldives and Japan have signed an 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 agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Takeuchi Midori.

Under this agreement which falls under the Japanese Economic and Social Development Programme, Japan will provide USD 140,000 worth of assistance to support the design phase of the seawall renovation.

"... [T]his signifies the first phase of a comprehensive project aimed at renovating the Malé seawall," the Foreign Ministry wrote, adding that the project 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 also 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, highlighting the close and friendly relations between the two countries. He stressed 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).