Malé, Maldives – The Government of Maldives and the Government of Japan have signed an Exchange of Notes for the "Project for Disaster Resilience Enhancement in Malé Island." The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, where Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Moosa Zameer, and the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Takeuchi Midori, formalized the agreement.

This initiative is part of the Japanese Economic and Social Development Programme, with Japan committing 20 million Japanese Yen (approximately USD 140,000) to support the design phase of the renovation of Malé’s seawall. The project aims to enhance the capital's resilience to rising sea levels and other climate-related threats.

During the ceremony, Minister Zameer highlighted Japan's longstanding support for the Maldives, recalling the critical role the original seawall—constructed with Japanese assistance in the 1990s—played in protecting Malé during the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Minister Zameer thanked Japan for its continued partnership and expressed the significance of this project in safeguarding the future of the Maldives. The project underscores Japan's role as a key partner in the Maldives’ development and disaster preparedness.

The signing was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, Ministry of Finance, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other key stakeholders. The project marks the first phase of a comprehensive effort to strengthen Malé’s defenses against climate challenges.