Ishigami Rumiko, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Maldives, paid a courtesy call on First Lady Sajidha Mohamed this morning at the Official Residence of the President, Muleeaage.

During the meeting, the First Lady and the Ambassador reflected on the long-standing friendship between the Maldives and Japan, which celebrates its 58th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

The discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in the education sector, particularly through initiatives supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aimed at capacity-building and human resource development.

The First Lady also highlighted the valuable contributions of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) serving across various islands in the Maldives, notably in specialised and physical education.

She expressed her gratitude to the Government of Japan for its continued support in improving educational opportunities and infrastructure across the nation.

Acknowledging Japan’s role as a key development partner, the First Lady commended the country’s assistance in areas such as infrastructure, telecommunications, and human resource development.

Before concluding the meeting, Ambassador Ishigami reaffirmed Japan’s continued commitment to supporting the Maldives’ development journey and praised the First Lady’s initiatives in advancing education and social welfare.