The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has signed an agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to conduct a survey on improving the surrounding sea wall and upgrading the storm drainage system in Male' City. The agreement was signed by the Director General of the Planning Ministry Shana Farooq and the Preparatory Survey Team Leader at JICA Tsukikoi Megumi.
The project called Disaster Resilience Enhancement in Male' will be carried out under grant assistance from JICA. The survey will collect various data needed to upgrade the surrounding sea wall and the storm drainage system in Male'.
The seawall around Male’ was built in 1990 under grant assistance from the Japanese government. The sea wall is an important symbol of the relationship between the Maldives and Japan. JICA has previously undertaken a survey regarding the seawall from 1991-1992 and the drainage system from 1993-2002. A similar agreement was executed with JICA back in October last year for such a survey.
The Maldives and Japan also established political relations in 1967. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the bilateral relations between both countries.