Maldives and Japan have signed an Exchange of Notes to advance the construction phase of the Seawall Renovation Project in Malé, as part of the “Project for Disaster Resilience Enhancement in Malé Island.” The signing ceremony took place on Saturday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agreement, valued at USD 10.5 million, was signed by Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel and Japan’s Special Envoy, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina Akiko, who is currently on an official visit to the Maldives.

The funding will support the reinforcement of the seawall that surrounds Malé City, a critical defence structure initially constructed following the 1987 tidal surges. The seawall has since played a key role in protecting the capital, particularly during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Foreign Minister Dr Khaleel described the seawall as a symbol of enduring Maldives–Japan friendship and highlighted the agreement as both an infrastructure milestone and a reflection of deepening bilateral ties. He also expressed optimism for expanded cooperation in areas such as maritime security, regional stability, and trade, while reaffirming Maldives’ support for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

Japan remains a key development partner of the Maldives, with support extending across sectors including education, healthcare, and renewable energy. Recently, the two countries signed an agreement to provide scholarships for Maldivian students pursuing postgraduate studies in Japan.