Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides grant for Renovation Project of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Maldives (Linked to Record ID#54160 and #100328)

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of the Maldives
Country	Maldives
Start Date	Dec 29, 2018
End Date	Feb 07, 2032
Duration	4,788 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`54157`

Grant Description

On December 29, 2018, the Chinese Government signed an exchange of letters with the Government of Maldives to renovate and expand the Maldives' Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jameel building complex in Malé, according to a January 2019 article from the Chinese Embassy in the Maldives.

The signing was performed by Maldives Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel on behalf of the Maldives and by Ambassador Zhang Lizhong on the behalf of China. According to a statement by the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project was funded with Chinese grant aid. The exact funding amount is unknown.

According to the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure, the project mainly included interior and exterior decoration of the building, repair of wall cracks and maintenance and renovation of water, electricity and air conditioning equipment and pipelines at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jameel Building Complex in Malé.

According to the Maldives Independent, the project was intended to help the Ministry of Foreign Affairs solve its space shortage and better service the people of the Maldives. According to the Chinese Embassy in July 2019, Shanghai Construction Engineering Group was the main contractor. China Building Technique's Design Institute No. 9 undertook the planning and design of the remodel.

On July 29th, 2019, a commencement ceremony was held for the renovation project.

The ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong and Maldives Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullah Shahid. According to the Chinese Embassy, actual construction did not begin until September 2019.

A key handover and completion ceremony, where the keys to the building were officially returned to the Maldives Foreign Ministry, was held on December 31st, 2020. The handover ceremony was attended by Minister Khaleel and Ambassador Zhang.

In 2022, the Chinese Government signed a certificate of aid of $310,000 USD extending its support for the continuing renovation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building in the Maldives {see Record ID#100328}.

📋 Staff Comments

This project is also known as the China-Aid Renovation Project of Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Building. The Chinese project title is 援马尔代夫外交部办公楼改造项目.
In July 2021, this building was renamed the Fathulla Jameel Building.
This project is linked to the 2005 Chinese Government-financed construction of the same Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building Complex (captured via Project ID#54160) and a 2022 Chinese Government-financed renovation of the same building (captured via Project ID#100328).

📚 Sources & References

China to renovate Maldives' foreign ministry building
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
CHINA - AID RENOVATION PROJECT MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RESIDENT ENGINEER (RE)
China-aid Renovation Project of MFA Office Building was inaugurated today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E Abdulla Shahid and Ambassador of #China to Maldives H.E Zhang
China funds renovation of Maldives foreign ministry
驻马尔代夫大使张利忠与马外交部长沙希德共同出席援马外交部办公楼维修项目启动仪式
The Governments of #Maldives and #China sign an exchange of letters on the renovation of the building complex of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building stands as a symbol of the strong bilateral relationship between #Maldives and #China.
张利忠大使与马外交部国务部长卡利尔就马外交部大楼维修项目正式签署换文
张利忠大使出席我援马外交部大楼维修项目交接仪式
The Government of #Maldives today received the keys to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building
China funds renovation of Maldives foreign ministry
China-aid Renovation Project of MFA Office Building was inaugurated today
援马尔代夫外交部办公楼改造项目通过竣工验收
The Governments of Maldives and China Sign Exchange of Letters on the Renovation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building
Renovation of foreign ministry building, completed
Foreign Ministry building handed over following completion of renovation works
China-aided Renovation of the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building
中技集团援马尔代夫外交部办公楼改造项目竣工验收
Unofficial translation of the remarks delivered by His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
President of the Republic of Maldives, at the ceremony held to officially rename the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “Fathulla Jameel Building”
Fathullah Jameel Building opening delayed due to equipment setup: Foreign Ministry
President dedicates Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in memory of former Foreign Minister Fathulla Jameel
Abdulla Shahid Tweet dated 31 December 2020 Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.