Maldives and Japan signs Exchange of Notes for Japanese Grant Assistance

The Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of Japan has signed an Exchange of Notes this morning. 

At the ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid, and the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Maldives, Kazumi Endo, signed the Exchange of Notes on behalf of the two respective countries. The signing ceremony was also witnessed by the Special Advisor of the Prime Minister of Japan, Kentaro Sonoura, who is on a one-day official visit to the Maldives. 

Under the terms of the Exchange of Notes, the Government of Japan will extend   to the Government of Maldives, a grant of three hundred million Japanese Yen (¥ 300,000,000) for further promoting the economic and social development of the Maldives. This grant will be utilized towards strengthening oil spill prevention and response, to reduce harmful environmental impact of oil spills in the Maldives. 

In his remarks during the ceremony, Foreign Minister Shahid thanked the Government and the people of Japan for the generous assistance. The Minister also highlighted that it is through the genuine efforts to understand the vulnerabilities and the development needs of the Maldives, that Japan has become and continues to remain as one of the most important development partners of the Maldives, a steadfast supporter and a key partner of Maldives’ social and economic development. 

The signing ceremony was witnessed by officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Coast Guard, Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials from the Embassy of Japan in the Maldives.