Japan has provided a grant of approximately USD 998,000 (110 Million Japanese Yen) to the Maldives, under the Japanese Project for Human Resource Development (JDS).

Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ibrahim Hassan and Resident Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki signed the agreement at the ceremony held at the Ministry of Higher Education on Thursday. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Embassy of Japan and JICA attended the ceremony.

With the signing of agreement, Japan will continue scholarship opportunities to be offered for the fiscal year 2022.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Japanese Ambassador to Maldives Keiko Yanai signed an Exchange of Notes relating to the grant aid, on July 15.

The grant is to be utilised to provide fully funded scholarships for six Maldivian students again this year, a project which was implemented last year also by the Government of Japan for further promoting the Human Resource Development in the Maldives.

Earlier this month, the government of Japan donated 112,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Maldives through the COVAX facility.

The foreign ministry noted that Japan has always been a consistent partner of the Maldives and has contributed to the development of social, environment, and education sectors in the Maldives. Back in November 2020, Maldives and Japan signed an Exchange of Notes worth USD 7.6 million to be extended to the Maldives Coast Guard and the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center.