The Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment (MHTE) of the Government of Maldives has invited expressions of interest from capable parties willing to build and operate a public sea transport network linking the islands and atolls of the Maldives. Conceptually, the proposed sea transport network is of loop type, connecting islands within an atoll through an intra-atoll ferry system, while a second loop would connect major islands within a group of atolls in a region. The third loop is expected to connect 7 regions in the Maldives through an inter-regional shuttle system.
Applicants may be private, public or Government owned legal entities.
According to MHTE, interested parties may access the following site for further information and for downloading the details:
http://www.transport.gov.mv/v2/dhathuru/
Alternatively, the relevant documents may be collected at the Embassy.
Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed met with several senior figures of the Japanese Government today, on the second and final day of his meetings in Tokyo. They included the Senior Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); the Senior Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and the Minister of Finance.
At these meetings, the Minister explained the new development model pursued by the new Government and the 5 focus areas selected by the new Government.
The keenness of the Japanese Government to consider helping the Maldives to address the development needs covered by the areas was reiterated by the officials at these meetings. Infrastructure development, cooperation in fisheries development, climate change concerns and human security figured as potential areas for engagement, as did FDI and joint venture activities.
The Japanese Government officials did exhibit strong interest in attending the Donor Forum the Government of Maldives has scheduled for end March 2009 where more details of the status of the economy and documentation on core areas would be made available to the donor community.
The Minister began his engagements today with a Breakfast Meeting with Mr. Hosei Norota, the President of the Japan-Maldives Parliamentarians’ League, who hosted the event. He also attended a lunch hosted by Mr. Minorikawa, the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs for him and members of his delegation.
The Minister will depart Tokyo on Wednesday for Washington to participate in a World Bank sponsored climate change event.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, arrived in Tokyo on Monday on a two-day visit to Japan, accompanied by Mr Moosa Manik, Chairman of the Maldives-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Dr. Hussain Niyaz, Executive Dirtector of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister met on Monday with Mr. Matsumoto, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office to handover a letter from President Mohamed Nasheed addressed to Prime Minister Taro Aso for onward transmission to the Prime Minister. At the meeting, Mr. Matsumoto recognized the recent peaceful transition of the Maldives to democracy and the introduction of multiparty politics and stated that Japan would spare no efforts to support democratic reforms. He said that Japan would also assist in stimulating the economy once the report of the current assessment of the economy becomes available.
The Minister expressed the gratitude of the Government of the Maldives for the continued assistance of Japan in the development efforts of the Maldives. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the high level of cooperation that exists between the two countries on matters of bilateral and multilateral concerns.
Later in the day, Dr. Shaheed met with H. E. Mr Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. They reviewed bilateral ties and discussed areas for intensifying and for furthering cooperation between the two countries. These included areas for economic development, climate change and human security. In that context, Foreign Minister Nakasone indicated the willingness of Japan to consider what kind of assistance it could offer when the Government of Maldives initiated study of the status of the economy is completed.
Dr. Shaheed is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Finance of Japan and several senior officials of the Government of Japan on Tuesday, 20th January 2009.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Dr. Ahmed Shaheed will arrive in Tokyo on Monday, 19th January 2009, on a two-day visit to Japan. The Minister is undertaking the visit as Special Envoy of President Mohamed Nasheed to deliver a letter from the President addressed to Prime Minister Taro Aso.
During the visit, the Minister is scheduled to meet with his counterpart H. E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone and hold discussions on further strengthening of bilateral ties between the Maldives and Japan. The Minister is also scheduled to meet with the Minister of Finance; the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the Senior Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; as well as the President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan will host a lunch in honour of the Minister and the President of the Japan-Maldives Parliamentarians’ League, Hon. Hosei Norota, will hold a Breakfast Meeting with the Minister and his delegation.
The Minister will be accompanied by Mr. Moosa Manik, Chairman of the Maldives-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group and Dr. Hussain Niyaz, Executive Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
