The Japanese government has reaffirmed its support for the Maldives’ Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Project, pledging an additional USD 2.3 million (approximately MVR 35 million) in funding. Her Excellency Takeuchi Midori, Ambassador of Japan to Maldives, and His Excellency Moosa Zameer, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the grant agreement formalizing the commitment.
This additional funding builds upon Japan’s initial investment of USD 27 million made in October 2016. The project’s primary goals are to improve information access throughout the Maldives, bridge the information gap between atolls and islands, and enhance disaster preparedness. Over 300,000 residents are expected to benefit from expanded digital television coverage.
The expanded project will provide more diverse TV programming, contributing to increased information literacy across the nation. Additionally, the initiative strengthens disaster preparedness by enabling the rapid dissemination of emergency warnings, facilitating timely and accurate communication during crises.
The Japanese government expressed hope that this assistance will support the Maldives government’s ongoing efforts to address climate change impacts, enhance disaster management, and reduce regional disparities in access to information.
