Shimizu Akira (right), chief representative of JICA Việt Nam office, addresses the conference. — Photo courtesy of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)

HÀ NỘI — The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) will continue supporting Việt Nam’s development, and the relationship between the two countries, said the agency’s chief representative in Việt Nam Shimizu Akira.

In a recent JICA’s regular review on Wednesday, Shimizu noted that Việt Nam’s loans from international agencies decreased by 16 to 20 per cent in the past four years.

This is a positive sign showing the growth and influence of the country’s economy.

In the fiscal year 2021-2022, JICA Việt Nam committed US$75 million in official development assistance (ODA) projects, $34 million for technical cooperation, and $5 million of non-refundable aid.

Emphasising the importance of infrastructure in national sustainable development, the chief representative hoped that Việt Nam would continue to effectively use ODA as a convenient means to mobilise capital and bring advanced technology from other countries.

The agency provided support packages in healthcare that improved Việt Nam’s response to infectious diseases, particularly COVID-19 testing capacity.

These packages include medical supplies and equipment, such as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machines, equipment and technology transfer to the Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory (BSL-3) at Pasteur Institute in HCM City.

Việt Nam is also part of JICA’s Global Health and Medicine Initiative. Specifically, the agency will continue its long-term partnership with Bạch Mai Hospital in Hà Nội, Huế Central Hospital in Huế, and Chợ Rẫy Hospital in HCM to establish a remote training system for local medical facilities.

Supporting Việt Nam in addressing the ageing population, JICA is also looking to improve rehabilitation and nursing care services.

JICA has also worked with Việt Nam - Japan University since 2015, with more than 200 students currently enrolled and 260 graduate students completing their studies at the school.

The plan is to establish post-graduate programmes and the campus in Hòa Lạc Hi-tech Park in 2023 and develop its scale into a 6,000-student university.

JICA is planning a cooperation project that connects technical interns to employment opportunities, which aims to create a better working environment for Vietnamese workers in Japan by eradicating illegal recruitment.

A $25 million loan agreement was also signed with a Vietnamese private company that develops onshore wind power in the central province of Quảng Trị.

The Japanese agency is also providing support regarding the amendment of the environmental protection law, expert assistance in green growth and water drainage policy, circular economy, adapting to climate change and aiming for carbon neutrality in 2050, as well as an eco-smart industrial park project in the southern Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Province.

In December last year, the fourth ODA loan agreement was signed for HCM City Water Environment Improvement Project - Phase 2, which aims to improve the living environment by enhancing the wastewater treatment system and mitigating flood-induced damage.

For the city’s Metro Line 1, all 51 cars manufactured in Japan were transported to Việt Nam. The project is now 90 per cent completed. — VNS