Open Seminar for JICA Chair Program at MNU ""Japanese Education from the International Perspectives - Implication for Maldives"

The Embassy was officially opened on 10 May 2007. The Embassy is currently headed by H.E. Mr. Hassan Sobir who presented his Letter of Credence to His Majesty the Emperor on 07 September 2022.

The first Ambassador of Maldives to Japan was H.E. Mr. Abdul Hameed Zakariyya. He presented his Letter of Credence to His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito on 11 March 2008. He was recalled on 25 June 2009.

H.E. Mr. Hassan Sobir

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Mr. Hassan Sobir arrived in Tokyo to assume his duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Maldives to Japan, on 21 June 2022. He presented his letter of Credence to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, on 7th September 2022.

Ambassador Sobir has more than 25 years of Senior Management experience in the Government of the Republic of Maldives.

He was member of Parliament representing the North Ari Atoll constituency from 1999 until 2004. He also served for 11 years as Member of Cabinet, with experience in high-level policy making and administration of key economic sectors. He held the cabinet portfolio for Ministry of Tourism and ministry of Fisheries & Agriculture.

Mr. Sobir has been the Chairman of the Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), Joint Venture company with partners from Denmark, which resulted in the first public metered desalinated water distribution system in the Maldives.

He also in the past played advisory role to key institutions including the Maldives Monetary Authority (the Central Bank) and regional institutions such as SAARC and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).

Mr. Sobir also has extensive experience and expertise in diplomatic and foreign relations. He has previously represented the Republic of Maldives as Non-Resident Ambassador of the Maldives to the Europe Union, Permanent Representative of Maldives to UN Office in Geneva, High Commissioner of Maldives to the United Kingdom, High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore and Maldives Ambassador to Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, Mission to the European Union.

From the year 2011 to 2013 he served as Senior lecturer, in School of Hospitality and Tourism, Help University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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