Japan grants $140,000 to renovate Maldives capital seawall

Maldives and Japan signed an agreement on Tuesday to donate $140,000 to the Maldives to support the design phase of the seawall renovation in Male.

Maldives foreign minister Moosa Zameer and the Japanese ambassador Takeuchi Midori signed the agreement at the foreign ministry. 

Under the Japanese Economic and Social Development Programme, the agreement signifies the first phase of a comprehensive project aimed at renovating the Male seawall.

The assistance, amounting to 20 million Japanese Yen, ($140,000) will support the design phase of the seawall renovation, which is critical to the safety and resilience of the capital city.

During the ceremony, 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 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, Zameer underscored that Male 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.

Zameer expressed his gratitude to the government of Japan for their generous assistance, mentioning the close and friendly relations between the two countries.

He noted that projects like this underscore Japan’s ongoing role as a key partner in the Maldives’ development journey.