Japan & UNODC To Build A Training Facility At The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) In Vilimale’

Yesterday afternoon, a ceremony was held at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) for the signing of the Exchange of Notes between Japan – as the donor – and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to build a training facility at the Centre.

This ceremony was graced by the Minister of Defense, Uza, Mariya Didi, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Ms. Keiko Yanai, Crime Prevention and Crime Justice Officer of the Global Maritime Crime Program from the UNODC, Mr. Masatomo Yamaguchi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Khaleel, Chief of Defense Force, Major General Abdulla Shamaal and Officers of Maldives National Defense Force.

MRCC is the nerve center of the Maldives Coast Guard that is responsible for maritime search and rescue coordination, and resource management and training. Hence, the training facility is anticipated to boost the functional efficacy and scale of the Coast Guard’s operations, through more capacity-building and training programs.

During her remarks at the ceremony, the Minister of Defense thanked both Japan and UNODC for their generous support highlighting the assistance provided by both the parties to the Maldives over the years in different avenues.

Threats to the Maldives maritime domain continue to amply in scale with Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing, Piracy, Terrorism, and Violent Extremism, Narcotics and Human Trafficking posing challenges to peace and security of not just the nation, but also the region.
 
(Photos: Ministry of Defense)