{"id":41473,"date":"2023-04-29T00:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T00:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/a-message-from-sandra-jensen-landi-ambassador-of-denmark-to-singapore-copy\/"},"modified":"2023-04-29T01:19:45","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T01:19:45","slug":"jica-vietnam-building-a-strong-vietnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/jica-vietnam-building-a-strong-vietnam\/","title":{"rendered":"JICA Vietnam: Building a Strong Vietnam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam. The Japan International Cooperation Agency\u2019s (JICA) activities in Vietnam are contributing to the country\u2019s economic development and the country\u2019s standing on the world stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shimizu Akira, Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam speaks with Bridges<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What is JICA\u2019s role in Vietnam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Shimizu Akira<\/strong>, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency Vietnam | \u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

From the 1990s to 2000s, Vietnam was a low-income country with modest infrastructure. We have played a very important role with regard to infrastructure development in Vietnam, which is crucial for the country\u2019s future growth. In 1992, more than thirty years ago this year, Japan\u2019s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam resumed with the country by sending Japanese experts and receiving participants from Vietnam for training in Japan. The JICA Vietnam Office was established in 1995, with the role to implement technical cooperation activities. In October 2008, a \u2018new\u2019 JICA Vietnam was established following the merger between the existing JICA and the overseas economic cooperation section of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation\u2019s (JBIC). Today, JICA Vietnam covers all Japan\u2019s ODA cooperation schemes including technical cooperation, concessional loan and grant aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total cumulative amount of Japan\u2019s ODA to Vietnam is over 3,000 billion JPY and our ODA cooperation aims to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and Vietnam. Japan\u2019s ODA has supported upgrading the North-South railway system, national road system, airports and seaports and traffic systems throughout the country. We are proud to contribute to Vietnam\u2019s investment, trade and business environment while strengthening the friendship between our two countries through person-to-person technical transfers and on-going human resource development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this fiftieth anniversary year, the friendship between our two countries is on track to grow even stronger in the future.<\/p>Shimizu Akira<\/strong>, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency Vietnam<\/mark><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Recently, Vietnam has been drastically decreasing its borrowing from ODA and seeking financial sources by issuing bonds in the domestic market. However, under the circumstance that the country still needs to address infrastructure challenges to drive quality growth, there are still many roles that ODA can contribute to stimulate the economy. Compared with other financial instruments available in the market, Japanese ODA loan is more concessional by having low-interest rates with long-term repayment periods (about thirty to forty years). Such ODA loan is more suitable for large-scale, high-quality infrastructure developments like that of HCMC Urban Railway Line 1 Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thu Thiem Tunnel | \u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the unique features of Japan\u2019s ODA is the technical cooperation. These are provided as grants and play a significant role in especially in the field of human resource development throughout dispatching experts, accepting training participants and\/or provision of equipment which deepens understanding between Vietnamese and Japanese colleagues. The Study on the economic development policy in the transition toward a market-oriented economy in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam or \u201cISHIKAWA Project\u201d as commonly referred by both Japanese and Vietnamese governments and academia, is considered JICA\u2019s iconic technical cooperation with Vietnam. The Project lasted during August 1995 \u2013 March 2001 with 3 phases covering main topics of macro-economics; fiscal and monetary policy; trade and industrial policy; agriculture and rural development; participation for AFTA\/APEC\/WTO;  and SOE & private sector promotion and significantly contributed to the formulation and implementation of the country\u2019s 6th<\/sup> and 7th<\/sup> 5-year Socio-economic Development Plans, which help shape the robust development and triggered the transform of Vietnam thereafter.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Binh Duong Wastewater Treatment Plant | \u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Japan\u2019s ODA is the combination of loans, grant aid, and technical cooperation in an integrated fashion which supports inclusive and dynamic development of Vietnam while strengthening the friendship between our two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How would you describe the relationship between Japan and Vietnam today?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japan is committed to securing peace and prosperity across ASEAN. Vietnam is ASEAN\u2019s third most populous country and is the most important partner for Japan as the \u2018Free and Open Indo-Pacific\u2019 initiative is implemented. Vietnam is a strong manufacturing base, a potential export market and a source of material-supplying for Japan. In this fiftieth anniversary year, the friendship between our two countries is on track to grow even stronger in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lach Huyen Port | \u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many Vietnamese people have a good feeling towards Japan and there is a level of trust shared between our two countries. JICA has contributed to this successful relationship by delivering ODA and Vietnam and Japan continue to be strong partners in terms of diplomacy, economics and people-to-people exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What opportunities and challenges do you see for JICA Vietnam\u2019s activities post-pandemic?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Hue Hospital | \u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

During the pandemic, JICA Vietnam prioritized: \u2018Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic (mainly on health sector)\u2019 and \u2018Economic recovery in post COVID-19 pandemic (mainly on infrastructure development). We supported the Vietnamese Government’s policy of \u2018Balancing between pandemic control and economic development\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To enhance economic growth, JICA Vietnam continues to cooperate with the Vietnamese Government by investing in necessary infrastructure projects, training highly-skilled personnel and cooperating within the healthcare sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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POLYVAC (Vaccine factory) | \u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We have been strengthening the diagnosis and treatment systems at major hospitals, including Bach Mai Hospital, enhancing the research and testing capacity for infectious diseases at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and building capacity in terms of health personnel at regional hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan and Vietnam have given the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Line 1 project – the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Line high priority status. As of today, all the trains have been transported to Vietnam and construction is being accelerated to ensure service commences as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quang Tri Wind Power | \u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

JICA is also cooperating with the Vietnamese Government regarding carbon-neutral energy supply. The on-shore wind-power project in Quang Tri province was funded under the overseas investment loan scheme in May 2021 and started operations in October 2021. We are also working on a solar power plant project which will contribute to Vietnam\u2019s shift to \u2018greener\u2019 energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of highly-skilled personnel, the Vietnam Japan University (VJU) already has 260 graduates and 138 newly-enrolled students. Besides, full scholarship has also been provided for almost 820 Vietnamese public employees to follow Master’s and Doctor\u2019s programs in various sectors at Japanese universities and continuously Vietnamese officials will come to Japan for training in the years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JICA Vietnam \u2013 Key projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Left: Sea dyke at Lach Huyen Port | Right: Plate of Lach Huyen Port<\/sub>
\u00a9 JICA Vietnam<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

JICA Vietnam has been active in Vietnam\u2019s transport (road, rail and sea-ports) and energy infrastructure sectors. Projects include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n