The Japanese government has granted MVR 40 million to Maldives to further promote its economic and social development.

The Maldives government signed the Exchange of Notes for Japan’s grant assistance of 300 million yen on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the grant is to be used towards strengthening oil spill prevention and response, as well as to reduce harmful environmental impact of oil spills in Maldives.

At the ceremony at the foreign ministry on Tuesday morning, foreign minister Abdulla Shahid and Japan’s ambassador Kazumi Endo signed the Exchange of Notes on behalf of the two respective countries.

Those at the signing ceremony included Kentaro Sonoura, Special Advisor of the Prime Minister of Japan, who is on a one-day official visit to the Maldives.

At the ceremony, minister Shahid thanked the people of Japan for their generous assistance and highlighted that it is through the genuine efforts to understand the vulnerabilities and the development needs of the Maldives, that Japan continues to remain as one of the most important development partners of the Maldives, as well as a steadfast supporter and a key partner of Maldives’ social and economic development.