Japan Supports Male’ with New Coastal Protection Project

Japan and the Maldives have signed an Exchange of Note for the Project for Disaster Resilience Enhancement in the Male’ Island. The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Ms. IKUINA Akiko, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and His Excellency Abdulla Khaleel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives.

The signing took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during Ms. IKUINA’s official visit to the Maldives as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, in honour of the country’s 60th Independence Day.

The project continues the legacy of the “Project for the Seawall Construction in Male’,” which was implemented from 1987 to 2006 and protected the island during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
This new initiative will restore and upgrade the seawalls on Male’s east and north coasts and includes the supply of equipment to improve stormwater drainage. It aims to enhance disaster management and coastal protection.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will implement the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, with completion expected by 2027.

Japan emphasizes environment, climate action, and disaster prevention as key pillars in its development cooperation with the Maldives and remains committed to supporting its socio-economic growth.