The Government of Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with the Maldives, highlighting the newly inaugurated Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) as a symbol of the longstanding partnership between the two countries.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives Ishigami Rumiko described the MRCC as a major milestone in strengthening the Maldives’ maritime safety and security architecture.

The Ambassador said the project includes the construction of the new MRCC and specialised training programmes on maritime search and rescue and maritime law enforcement for Coast Guard officers and other maritime-related agencies. 

She noted that the centre will serve as both an operational coordination facility and a national maritime training hub, equipped with modern facilities to strengthen response capabilities. 

Highlighting the importance of maritime security for the Maldives, she said the facility will further strengthen the capacity of the Maldives Coast Guard to ensure maritime safety in the Indian Ocean and respond effectively to emergencies.

Ambassador Ishigami also highlighted the broader relationship between Japan and the Maldives, noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Japanese Embassy in the Maldives and the 10th anniversary of Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.

She said FOIP promotes peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region through the maintenance of a free and open international order based on the rule of law, freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes, and the new MRCC will contribute to strengthening maritime security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

Ambassador Ishigami highlighted Japan’s support to the Maldives over nearly six decades in areas including disaster risk reduction, education, public health, fisheries and maritime safety, reaffirming Japan’s commitment to remaining a close partner of the Maldives.