President and Commander-in-Chief of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Dr Mohamed Muizzu, inaugurated the new building of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at a ceremony held this morning in Vilimalé.

Upon his arrival, the President was received by Minister of Defence and National Service, Hassan Rasheed and Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy. A Presidential Salute was accorded to the President and Commander-in-Chief to mark the occasion.

The new MRCC building was developed by the Government of Maldives, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) serving as the project's coordinating partner. The government of Australia also provided support for the installation of the facility's equipment and operational systems.The MRCC serves as the national coordination centre for search and rescue operations within the Maldives' maritime and aeronautical search and rescue regions.

Although construction of the building commenced in 2022, the project experienced delays. President Dr Muizzu subsequently prioritised its completion as part of the Administration's efforts to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Maldives Coast Guard.

Following the inauguration, the President toured the facility. The new building houses a modern operations room for coordinating maritime and aviation search and rescue incidents, as well as classrooms and an auditorium to support training and capacity development.

A special prayer was offered during the ceremony. The President also planted a tree on the premises to commemorate the inauguration.

The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Ishigami Rumiko; the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Hao Zhang; members of the diplomatic corps; Cabinet Ministers; senior Government officials; and senior officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).