Infrastructure and mobility are sectors of high priority of Japanese investments in Vietnam, in particular seaports such as Lach Huyen (Haiphong) worth Yen36.3 billion in 2005 and a container port underway, and Cai Mep – Thi Vai (Southern Vietnam), the first deep-water seaport of international standard in Vietnam to be operated by a Vietnam-Japan joint venture company.
According to Mr Kaga Itaru, Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Long Thanh airport, a major airport in Asia with a capacity of 25 passengers a year, will be built as a project of public and private partnership. Meanwhile, in March 2010, an agreement has been signed to build Terminal 2 of Noi Bai International Airport with investment capital of Yen12.6 billion and to be operated in 2015.
Japan will also help in the building of urban railways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, North-South highway, as well as technical training and operation of the projects.
Application of high technology in natural disaster management
Mr Yumoto Hironobu, Head of Department of International Cooperation, Japanese Ministry of Interior and Information, said that soon after the earthquake disaster, Japan has developed modern information community. “We are planning to develop a wide band system open to everyone, creating intelligent community, intelligent society. Information technology will be applied in disaster affected area, and then expand to other countries making a society using modern information technology”, he said.
Also according to Mr Yumoto Hironobu, Japan wishes to establish an information network in ASEAN region especially in Vietnam. By 2015 infrastructure will be developed for multi-function information technology, an intelligent network connecting man-to-man, material-to-material. It will serve not only a country but several countries using information technology to prevent natural disasters and protect environment.
After successful feasibility study, Japan will share the experiences and start specific cooperation with pilot projects in Hanoi, Da Nang and Can Tho.
In Hanoi, information technology will be applied to improve urban environment in city centre and Thang Long industrial zone. In Can Tho, the project will focus on water management against natural disaster. For Da Nang, it will be mainly against natural disaster. Related information will be connected and shared between the projects.
Professor Shibasiki Ryosuke, Tokyo University, disclosed that Asian Development Bank together with Japanese related organizations and Tokyo University are implementing in Bangladesh and Vietnam, IT and aerospace projects, especially satellite observation, to provide data and analysis to mobile phones on the time, ground positioning and even how many people are in danger so that the authorities can decide and warn the people of the evacuation.
The professor pointed out that Vietnam-Japan cooperation in this field is essential and must be implemented. One, the two countries should have observation stations or satellite information stations. Two, Japan has already observation satellite and encourage other Asian countries to participate in the project to make it more efficient with more ground observation stations in the region. Three, related countries will study and develop analysis networks relying on skilled workforce. As each country has its own conditions and different demand in data, the cooperation with Vietnam will help Japan develop a suitable network for each specific country.
Si Son
Vietnamese
