The Japanese government has provided the Maldives National Defence Force 45 fire engines, as part of its ‘Non-Project Grant Aid’ program.

The vehicles were handed over by Kentaro Senoura, special advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a member of parliament, at an event held on Monday night. They were received by Major General Ahmed Shiyam.

At the event, MP Senoura said Maldives is an important country to Japan in several ways, and that economic, military, and diplomatic agreement between both countries will be mutually beneficial.

In his address, Senoura highlighted that Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono’s visit to the Maldives in January this year was a milestone in the relations between his country and the Maldives.

During his visit, Maldives entered an agreement into promoting Tokyo’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ diplomatic strategy. Kono also visited neighbouring Sri Lanka and India this year.

Senoura had on Monday met with senior officers of the Maldives National Defence Force and discussed ways in which to bolster relations in security and defence. Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi was at this meeting. 

The special advisor's delegation also met with the Maldivian Foreign Ministry and granted over MVR 40 million for 'economic and social development' of the Maldives.