Japan’s Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives Keiko Yanai paid a courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih this morning at the President’s Office.
During the meeting, President Solih thanked the Ambassador for the Japanese Government’s friendship and support over the years. He acknowledged the prominent role Japan has played, and continues to play, in supporting the Maldives’ development, through assisting in major projects. The President also expressed gratitude on behalf of the Maldivian Government and people for the 5 Billion Yen provided by the Government of Japan to the Maldives, to aid the emergency response to Covid-19. This is by far the largest concessional loan provided by Japan to the Maldives, and is indicative of the Japanese Government’s generosity and the close bilateral friendship between our two nations.
To take that bilateral partnership forward, the Ambassador expressed the Japanese Government’s interest in strengthening cooperation across a number of areas. Areas discussed include vocational training for youth development, sustainable waste management, health sector development, peace and security. The Ambassador noted that Japan will continue to work closely with the Maldives Government to expand grassroots project assistance under the Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) to empower communities in line with the Government’s decentralization policies.
Ending the call, President Solih and Ambassador Yanai reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further enhance Maldives-Japan cooperation in the years ahead.
