The Government of Japan donates fireboat and communications equipment to the Maldives National Defence Force

　July 30, 2023 – Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, His Excellency HAYASHI Yoshimasa formally handed over fireboat and communications equipment to Minister of Defence, Her Excellency Uza. Mariya Ahmed Didi at a ceremony held in MNDF Headquarters today.

　The fireboat is handed over in line with the Exchange of Notes signed between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Maldives in June 2019 under the Economic and Social Development Programme. The grant in value of five hundred million Japanese Yen (¥ 500,000,000), which is approximately USD 4.68 million and Maldivian Rufiyya 72.6 million, was committed for the procurement of a fireboat and a landing craft for the Maldives National Defence Force to bolster operational readiness in emergency needs across the Maldives.

　Additionally, the communications equipment is handed over in line with the Exchange of Notes signed between the Government of Japan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in March 2023 under the Project for Enhancement of Ability in Maritime Safety and Security in Maldives. The grant in value of Japanese Yen three hundred and fortyseven million (¥ 347,000,000), (approximately USD 2.5 million which is equivalent to Maldivian Rufiyaa 38.5 million) was committed to provide comprehensive assistance to the Government of Maldives to effectively prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute cases of drug trafficking, crimes in the fisheries sector, and crimes affecting the marine spaces of the Maldivian archipelago, ensuring human rights-based detention of those sentenced under these offences, as well as effectively prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism by strengthening communities’ resilience, and providing comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) support. The three-year project is articulated into five outputs and the procurement of communication equipment is one of the components under these outputs.

　Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, His Excellency HAYASHI Yoshimasa is in Maldives for an official visit from July 29-30, on invitation by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, His Excellency Abdulla Shahid. Series of meetings and events are scheduled to further strengthen bilateral ties and to explore further areas of cooperation between the two countries.

　The Government of Japan remains committed to enduring friendship with the Maldives and will substantially contribute by continuing to work together to advance prosperity and to ensure safety and security of the people in both the countries, the region, and beyond.