Welcome Party for the Participants to the JICA Program on Port Development and Planning (for port engineers)

On June 8th, 2017, the reception was held at the Hotel Grand Arc Hanzomon.

The number of participants counted 18, among which 2 were female; from Samoa and Togo. The program started from 4th of June and ended 11th of August.

15 countries participated; Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Cote d'Ivoire, Kiribati, Namibia, Togo and Tuvalu.

The ceremony started at 18:30, thereafter followed welcome reception from 19:00. Some of the Participants made their introduction in Japanese, which were warmly accepted by all who attended the party.

Guest of honor, Mr. Shuichi Tsuda, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, MLIT made a welcome speech

Mr. AVE Silona, Tuvalu made a thank-you speech on behalf of the Participants

Mr. Isao Fukuda, Senior Executive Director of JDREA (Japan Dredging and Reclamation Engineering Association) welcomed the Participants and proposed a toast on behalf of ten (9) port-related organizations which co-hosted the party.

27th Board of Directors Meeting and 25th Annual Conference

On June 9th, 2017, 27th Board of Directors Meeting and 25th Annual Conference, were held at the 6th floor SCOPE(the Service Center of Port Engineering) meeting room of the Shoyu Kaikan Building.

Mr. Tatsuhiko Ikeda, President of JOPCA, addressed at the meeting

Mr. Shuichi Tsuda, Honorable Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, MLIT attended and addressed at the Annual Conference

Dr. Tatsuro Okumura, Auditor of JOPCA reported at the meeting

Mr. Ikuo Fujita, Planning Committee, reported the 2nd Indonesian Seminar

Excursion to see Japanese Society and Culture for the Participants to the JICA Program - 1

The first excursion in the fiscal year 2017 was held on Saturday, June 10th, 2017. The aim of the excursion is to provide the JICA Participants who have recently arrived Japan an opportunity to get acquainted with the Japanese society and culture as well as to deepen international exchange with Japanese volunteer guides of the tour.

This time, 17 people from 14 countries participated in the JICA Port Development and Planning Course, all of who also participated in the tour. As Japanese guides, four (4) MLIT junior staff, one each from Yokohama-city, Nikken Kogaku Co. and Japan Port Consultants Co., and three (3) from JOPCA Secretary volunteered to guide the tour.

Excursion route was the same to the last year's third excursion, starting from Hama-rikyu Gardens, cruising up the Sumida River, lunching Tempura at Asakusa, visiting Asakusa Tourist Information Center, strolling Nakamise and finishing at Sensoji Temple.

At this time of the year, weather is always a concern as the rainy season is about to start in Japan. It was fortunate to have a clear weather. Although the temperature was a bit high, all the participants enjoyed the program. This time two participants were on Ramadan, which did not allow them to take meals nor water during the daytime. It was a pity that two Muslim participants, therefore were not able to enjoy Japanese dishes nor Japanese tea.

JICA Participants started their day by leaving JICA Yokohama Training Center (YTC) in the morning to Hama rikyu Gardens, where they were greeted by the Japanese guides. After saying hello briefly, the party agreed to take the first group photo. As all the participants wished to take photo with their own cameras and smart phones, twenty cameras were offered in total. The similar situations were observed whenever group photo was to taken.

At Hama-rikyu Gardens, they enjoyed Japanese green tea with sweets in a traditional way of tea ceremony, while seeing the beautiful Japanese garden. The sweets looked delicate and tasted sophisticated, which received participants' admiration. The departure time of the river bus was set a little later than before, which allowed the party more time to strolling around the Gardens. On the bus, there was a group of school trip with whom international cultural exchange was made.

Getting off at the Asakusa Cruise Terminal, there were again photo chances with the Sky Tree and the very unique Asahi Brewery Co. Building in the back. The party proceeded to the Tempura Restaurant next to the Kaminarimon Gate, and ate Tempura set menu lunch. Some were very skillful to handle chopsticks, while others were not. Some were familiar with Japanese tea and foods, while others were not. However, all of them were quite satisfied with the taste, except two Muslims for whom the Tempura was packed in box for their night meal.

After lunch, the party went up to the top of the top of the Asakusa Tourist Information Center Building and enjoyed the view. Then they were given a little more than one hour free time to walk around Nakamise through to Sensoji Temple. The neighborhood was so crowded because it was Saturday, and some Participants were determined to explode the vicinity by themselves, there was a question whether all of them could make it to come back by the fixed time to the fixed gathering point. Although there were some people who came back a little behind the scheduled time, all arrived safe The Party, then went to the Asakusa Station of Toei Transportation where they experienced charging PASMO card, and went back to YTC.

At the Kaminarimon Gate where the Party gathered after free walking, all the Participants confessed that the tour was excited and enjoyable, and thanked the guides and JOPCA who planned and implement the tour. It is our hope that the tour would provide the JICA Participants with a good opportunity to understand and moreover like Japan, through exchange with Japanese volunteer guides. Furthermore, it is our sincere hope that they would successfully complete the lengthy JICA course, become a fan of Japan and go back home with good impression of Japan in their hearts.

In front of the three hundred year pine tree Tea ceremony

Tea ceremony's room terrace

On the water bus toward Asakusa Eating Tempura luch with chopsticks

Gathering picture with university students in front of KAMINARIMON

OCDI・JOPCA Joint Seminar on the World Movement surrounding the port sector held on October 10, 2017

On October 10th, 2017, the said Seminar was held, in which 3 former Secretaries, 1 former consul, 1 JICA official and 1 JICA expert presented respectively port-related topics of the countries where they had been stationed. More than 100 participants took part in the Seminar which was a great success.

Opening Address by Mr. Tatsuhiko Ikeda, the President of JOPCA

Guest of honor's speech by Mr. Satoru Uozumi, Director, Industrial Port Policy Division, PHB, MLIT

Topic 1 by Mr. Koh Hirasawa, Director, Mikawa Port Office, Chubu Region Development Bureau, MLIT (former secretary of the Japanese Embassy at Philippines)

Topic 2 by Mr. Mitsuru Kawamata, Deputy Director, Engineering Administration Office, PHB, MLIT (former consul of the Japanese Consular Office at Pusan)

Topic 3 by Mr. Masakazu Ito, Chief, Planning Section, Second Engineering Division, Wakkanai Port Office, Hokkaido Development Bureau, MLIT (former consul of the Japanese Consular Office at Vladivostok)

Topic 4 by Mr. Hiroaki Muraoka, Coastal Area Disaster Prevention Researcher, Chiba Port Office, Kanto Region Development Bureau, MLIT (former secretary of the Japanese Embassy at Panama)

Topic 5 by Mr. Tetsushi Hayakawa, Deputy Director, Tourism Regional Promotion Division, Tourism Regional Promotion Department, Tourism Agency, MLIT (former JICA Official at Egypt/Myanmar)

Topic 6 by Mr. Mitsugu Kawata, Director, Keihin Port Office, Kanto Region Development Bureau, MLIT (former JICA Expert to Indonesia)

Topic 7 by Mr. Hiroyuki Hayashi, Planning and Coordinating Officer, National Resilience Promotion Office, Cabinet Secretariat (former secretary of the Japanese Embassy at Vietnam)

There were some questions from the floor.

Tokyo City Tour for the Trainees of the JICA Program (Improvement of Port Cargo Transport Efficiency for African Countries)

The tour was held on November 4th, 2017, which was the second occasion of this kind in 2017.

The party included 10 trainees of the JICA Program "Improvement of Port Cargo Transport Efficiency for African Countries" (Out of 11 trainees, 1 person did not join because of personal reason)

The tour, based on the past experience of JOPCA, was the standard route of "Hama-rikyu Gardens→ Sumida River Cruise→ Asakusa neighborhood", which Japanese attendants were familiar with and required no hustle. This, in return, made JICA trainees relax and the whole party got satisfaction with smile through the way down to the end.

10 trainees from 6 countries (Benin, Congo, Mozambique, Senegal, South Sudan and Tanzania), guided by 3 Japanese attendants left JICA Yokohama at 9:00 and rode Minatomirai Line and Tokaido-Line to Shinbashi, from where the party walked in convoy to the Hama-rikyu Gardens. At the main gate "Otemonguchi", three additional attendants joined.

As the day was the first weekend for JICA trainees after the arrival in Japan, walking the street of Tokyo was fresh and skyscrapers at Shiodome fascinated them. One of them said, pointing at the tower building, "the Japanese Government should be the one who built such a tall building"

At the tea house in the Gardens, the party enjoyed green tea and Japanese sweets. While enjoying the tea, some trainees made questions such as "Which is more powerful, Shogun or Emperor?" and "Why do you call drinking tea a Tea Ceremony?" Those questions were not easy to answer and the attendants were embarrassed.

From the Gardens, the party directly got in the river cruise boat, which took them to Asakusa in about 1 hour. Looking intensely types and shapes of the various bridges over the river, many of them went into dream with the sound of engine as lullaby.

At Asakusa, the party climbed up to the 8^th floor of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, just in front of the Kaminarimon, looking down the bustle of the Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street, then enjoyed a little late lunch at Tempura Restaurant of Sansada. After the lunch, the trainees expressed their heartfelt thanks for the delicious lunch and marvelous tour, which was a very grateful surprise to the Japanese attendants.

Finally the party visited Sensoji Temple. The party went through the Nakamise Street to the Sensoji Temple with 3 flags above the convoy as marks. But the Street was so crowded with many foreign tourists that it was rather hard for the trainees to follow the flags. The party encountered some ten participating beauties to the International Beauty Contest, who happened to make their sightseeing of Asakusa, with a sash of their country. The trainees (attendants as well?) were very much delighted and they took pictures together, or dared to make interviews (after all, the beauties are representing beauties!)

At around 3, the tour came to an end and trainees were declared to free to go. This time no one claimed to go somewhere, and all of them took the way back to JICA Yokohama.

The attendants this time was; Mr. Sato of JOPCA Planning committee as the Leader, Mr. Fujita of the said Committee, Mr. Shima of MLIT, Ms. Aoyagi of Yokohama city, Mr. Kashiwada of Fudo Tetra Corporation and Ms. Yoneda of JOPCA Secretariat.

In front of the three hundred year pine tree, Hama Rikyu Gardens

Studying the manner of Tea Ceremony, Experiencing Green Tea

In front of the Asakusa Cruise berth, At the view terrace of the Tourist Center

Private class for Tempura with chopsticks, In front of the Kaminarimon

Together with 2017 Miss Internationals,

Vietnam Japan University Post Graduate Students Visited Port of Yokohama

Yoshihisa Fujita, Planning Committee

Introduction

Vietnam Japan University opened in September 2016 under the cooperation of Japan. The university, major aim of which is to develop human resources who bear the important role for development of countries, opens its window not only to Vietnamese but also to people of other countries. As the first step, six (6) master courses have been established.

One of them is the social infrastructure course. The first students, having completed their first year in Vietnam, visited Japan from September to December last year to experience internship. JOPCA invited them to a one day tour to the port of Yokohama to learn Japanese port and its experience.

Outline of the visit

The five (5) second grade graduate students out of six (6) who were studying in Japan participated in the tour on 13th November last year under the cooperation of Port and Harbor Bureau of MLIT, Port and Harbor Department of Kanto Region Development Bureau, Yokohama city and JICA.

Out of five, four (4) were enrolled at Tokyo University and one (1) at Tsukuba University. Dr. Kato, professor, Social Infrastructure Course, Engineering Department, Tokyo University is responsible for their study in Japan. JOPCA owes much to Dr. Kato during the planning as well as implementation of this event.

(Lectures)

In the morning, two lectures were prepared to outline the Japanese ports. First, Mr. Okuda, International Coordinator, Port and Harbor Bureau, MILT briefed them roles, institutions and development strategy of Japanese ports, under the title of "Institution and Strategy of Japanese Port Sector". Secondly, Mr. Maruyama, Deputy Director, Business Promotion Division, Port Bureau, Yokohama City, explained the outline of the port including the role of port management body, history of the development, present situation and issues, economic impacts of the port and MM21 development.

Both lectures were very well attended by the students, and so many questions were made that time easily run out. During the lunch at a restaurant overviewing the port, more questions were made.

(Site visit)

The party got on the port service boat "Takashima Ⅱ" owned by Keihin Port Office, Kanto Region Development Bureau, and was guided by Mr. Kawada, Director-General of the Office. The construction project of Minami-Honmoku Wharf, the latest container terminal was highlighted. The students were overwhelmed by the scale of the Yokohama port and its facilities while enjoying the cruise under the clear sky

The party then landed and saw from the administration building the operation of Honmoku Pier C container terminal. The students are very much impressed by the Gantry crane operation which claimed as the world highest efficiency, to which the students made questions endlessly.

Conclusion

JOPCA held Port seminar in Hanoi in last December. By then, the students participated in the Yokohama Port tour had already returned to Vietnam, and showed up at the Seminar.

"The Development Cooperation Charter" decided by the National Cabinet of Japan in 2015 stipulates that Japan will attach importance to building the foundations of self-help efforts and self-reliant development such as human resources, socio-economic infrastructure, regulations and institutions. In harmony with this direction, JOPCA would reconfirm its commitment to build human network among the people of developing countries and Japan.

In conclusion, special thanks should go to the people of Port and Harbor Bureau of MLIT, Port and Harbor Department of Kanto Region Development Bureau, Yokohama City and JICA.

Vietnam-Japan Port Seminar 2017

The seminar was held on December 20th, 2017, at Hanoi, Vietnam.

Ⅰ．2nd Vietnam-Japan Port Seminar

1. Outline

・Name: Vietnam-Japan Port Seminar 2017

・Place: Daewoo Hotel, Hanoi

Hanoi city, Socialist Republic of Vietnam

・Date: 9:00 am～、December 20th, 2017

2. Program

As attached

3. Organization

Hosts: Japan Overseas Port Cooperation Organization (JOPCA)

Vietnam Maritime Bureau (VINAMARINE)

Sponsors: Overseas Coastal Area Development Institute of Japan (OCDI)

Specialists Center of Port and Airports Engineering (SCOPE)

Supporters: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

4. Participants

Vietnam: 43

Japan: 45

Total: 88

5. Seminar in brief

① Opening Ceremony

・Opening Ceremony took place just on time at 9:00 am. First, on behalf of Japanese side, Mr. Ikeda, President of JOPCA made opening remarks. Then Mr. Nguyen Xuan Sang, Director-General of Vinamarine made a welcome speech. The two greetings were made by two distinguished guests; Mr. Yusuke Hayashi, First Secretary, Japanese Embassy at Hanoi, which was followed by Mr. Akito Takahashi, Deputy Representative, JICA Vietnam Office.

・The new chairmen of JICA Alumni Association (JAA), which had been established five years ago, were nominated: Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hue (reelect) who was the first participant to the JICA port training course, and Mr. Ikeda (newly elect).

・Mr. Nakao, president of SCOPE which is a sponsor of the seminar, presented hardcopies of "Handbook for Execution of Ports and Harbors Works (English version)"

② Seminar, Session 1

The Session 1 of the Seminar was port planning/development and management/operation. The lecturers were Dr. Hiroyuki Nishijima, chairman of the JOPCA Planning Committee, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hue, Chairman of VAPO and Hiroaki Yashiro, JICA Senior Investment Advisor to Vietnam. The speakers had 30 minutes each and delivered their lectures in English covering the fields of Japanese port management and operation system, issues of port management in Vietnam and JICA's activities in port sector in Vietnam. After three lectures finished, there were quite a few questions from the floor.

③ Seminar, Session 2

After lunch, session 2 started, regarding design/implementation of port facilities. Lectures were; Dr. Masashi Miyata, head of port facilities research laboratory, MILIM, Dr. Nguyen Viet Thanh, Lecturer of Vietnam Transport and Telecommunications University, Mr. Masaaki Inaba, senior researcher of SCOPE and Dr. Masaki Kitadume, Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology.

The four speakers made 30 minutes lecture each in English, covering the fields of present situation of Vietnam National Port Standards project, particular field of breakwater which had been conducted by Vietnamese side, implementation and inspection part conducted by Japanese side and overview and forecast on the ground improvement technique in Japan. After the four lectures, questions and answers were made, and participants had an opportunity to exchange information and to deepen mutual understanding.

④ Closing Ceremony

After the Seminar, each participant received Seminar Completion Certificate from Dr. Phan Nguyen Hai Ha, Director of International Department, Vinamarine and Mr. Ikeda.

Finally, Mr. Sato of the Planning Committee of JOPCA, made closing remarks, expressing the fruits of the Seminar and JOPCA's commitment for the reunion after five years. The seminar closed at 4 pm.

Ⅱ. Study Excursion to the Port of Lach Huyen

Following the Seminar, 25 JOPCA members visited the port of Lach Huyen which located one hour and half bus drive from Hanoi and had been in the first phase of construction project financed by JICA. The project, being the STEP project, was been executed by Japanese Contractors. At present, Packages 6, 8, 9, 10 were being implemented. Main works included outer seawalls, sand trapping dikes, channel dredging. After the party was briefed by JV managers at the site office, got on a boat to the work site. The party members were all impressed by the gigantic scale of the works which were not found domestically nowadays. At the same time, the party realized the difficulties and hurdles accompanied with the works, and imagined the efforts exerted by the people working there.

Group Photo

Photo covering Seminar venue

Opening speech by Mr. Ikeda

Welcoming Speech by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Sang, President of Vinamarine

Greetings by Mr. Yusuke Hayashi, First Secretary of Japanese Embassy

Greeting by Mr. Akito Takahashi, Vice Representative JICA Vietnam

Acceptance Speeches by Dr. Hue and Mr. Ikeda, as Chairmen of JAA

Photo of seminar room

Welcome Party for the Participants to the JICA Program on Strategic Port Administration and Management (for port managers)

On January 19th, 2018, the reception was held at the Fuji-nishi hall, Hotel Grand-Arc Hanzomon.

The JICA Program, which started from 15th January through 28th February, received 12 participants from 11 countries of Cambodia, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique and Philippines, among which 3 were female.

The ceremony started at 18:30, thereafter followed welcome Reception.

All the Participants had a great time chatting, in a friendly atomosphere, with people from embassies, JOPCA members and patrons.

Mr. Yusuke Shima of the International Planning Office, MLIT emceed the Ceremony.

Guest of honor, Mr. Takamitsu Asawa, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, MLIT made a welcome speech

Rep. of the Participants, Mr. AL HILHI Mohammed Jasim Mohammed, Iraq made a thank-you speech

Mr. Masato Ohno, Managing Director of SCOPE (Specialist Center of Port Engineering) welcomed the Participants and proposed a toast on behalf of nine (9) port-related organizations which co-hosted the party.

Group Photo of the Participants

Group Photo of the assembly

Tokyo City Tour for the Trainees of the JICA Program (Strategic Port Administration and Management (for Port Manager)

Yoshihisa Fujita, Planning Committee

The tour was held on January 20th, 2018, which was the third occasion of this kind in the fiscal year of 2017. The tour aims to provide the Trainees who have recently arrived Japan and were not familiar with the country, with an opportunity to get acquainted with the Japanese society and cultures as well as to deepen relation with the Japanese participants who guided the tour.

The party included 10 trainees of the JICA Program "Strategic Port Administration and Management"; one each from Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique and Philippines. As guides of the tour, four (4) from Port and Harbor Bureau, MLIT, one (1) from Yokohama City, two (2) from Nikkenn Kogaku Co. and three (3) from JOPCA participated. In addition, two (2) from JICA participated for the first time.

The tour started with a brief orientation and provision of PASMO charged with thousand (1,000) yen courtesy of JOPCA. The tour went as follows:

① Old Shimbashi Depot, Zero Mile Labeling

In 1872, the first Japanese railway started here to connect the newly opened (in 1859) port city of Yokohama.

② Hama-rikyu Gardens

The party took strolling inside the park, experienced green tea at the Teahouse, enjoyed the view of the Rainbow Bridge and the Oi Container Terminal from the Shin-Hinokuchi-Yama hill; and surprised by the scale of the Tokyo Port. I explained Komomaki (snow protection with straw ropes or straw mats) for which I had well prepared, however I knew nothing about the bronze statue of Umashimadenomikoto. Although the time for plum blossoms were still sometime far, we had camellias everywhere and group photos were taken.

Tea Ceremony terrace at tea ceremony house

in front of camellia sasanqua

③ Sumida River Cruise

The party enjoyed 55 minutes boat riding. The trainees were impressed by the unique shape of the vessel. At the Asakusa dock, more group photos were taken with the Tokyo Sky Tree and the unique Objet of Asahi Brewing HQs Building at the back. Some trainees were happy to take photos with ladies in Kimonos.

with captain of the water bus in front of ASAHI beer famous figure

with beautiful KIMONO women

④ Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center

The party enjoyed the view of vicinity of Asakusa and Tokyo Sky Tree from the 8th floor of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center.

⑤ Lunch at Sansada Restaurant

The party enjoyed set menu lunch of Tempura.

tempura lunch with chop sticks picture with SANSADA stuff

⑥ Nakamisa Street and Sensoji-Temple

After strolling Nakamise Street and bathed smoke of incense sticks, the party gave worship at Sensoji. The congestion this time was not as bad as that of the last year which was like a subway during rush hour.

in front of KAMINARIMON in precincts

⑦ Asakusa Shrine

The party then encountered a street performance of showman-monkey. After everybody enjoyed the show, the tour came to the end. The party went back to the hotel.

The weather this time was cloudy, with temperature of high at 7 degree Celsius, but fortunately no wind. Although we were a little worried about the weather as the trainees came from the countries with warm weather, to our relief no one got ill. It was also fortunate that no one got lost as everybody tried to keep eyes on companies.

Trainees this time were all friendly and thawed each other as if they were old friends. I could not believe that they had arrived just one week before and met each other for the first time. They cheered the tour themselves by, for example, volunteering to hold JOPCA banner and to be a camera person.

Finally, the Japanese participants were rewarded by the JICA trainees' words "The tour was so fun" I hereby convey my thanks to all the Japanese participants.

8th JOPCA Seminar on January 23, 2018

The Seminar was held on January 23, 2018 at Shoyu Kaikan building with 80 audience. The theme was A New Sphere of Overseas Port Development Projects.

Opening address by Mr. Ikeda, the president of JOPCA

Opening remarks by the distinguished guest, Mr. Takamitsu Asawa, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, Port and Harbor Bureau, MLIT

Key Note Speech: "Overseas Port Operation Project", by Mr. Katsuichi Yabunaka, Executive Technical Advisor, Infrastructure and Peacebuilding Department, JICA

Topic 1: "Overseas Activities of Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd", by Yuichi Endo, Senior Manager, Civil Engineering Division, International Civil Engineering Group, International Business Unit, Penta-Ocean Construction Co., LTD

Topic 2: "54 Years' Experience and Outlook of International Business", by Mr. Tatsuo Kawabata, General Manager, Civil Engineering Department, International Division, Toa Corporation

Topic 3: "Overseas Business Activities of Toyo Construction Co., Ltd", by Mr. Takuro Inoue, Executive Officer, General Manager, International Division, Toyo Construction Co., Ltd.

Topic 4: "Overseas Activities of Wakachiku Construction Co., Ltd", by Mr. Yutaka Terao, Deputy General Manager, International Department, Wakachiku Construction Co., Ltd

Topic 5: "Overseas Activities of Rinkai Nissan Construction Co., Ltd", by Hiroyuki Onishi, Director, Internation Planning Department, International Division, Rinaki Nissan Construction Co., Ltd.

Questions and answers

The 6^th meeting of "The workshop on the future course of technical cooperation

1. Introduction

The 6^th meeting of "The Workshop on the future course of technical cooperation" was held from 3pm of March 9^th, 2018 at the conference room 3A/3B of MLIT. The theme was "A message to young engineers who take part in overseas projects; technical cooperation in the age of infrastructure system exportation"

The meeting, emceed by Dr. Akihiko Yahiro of the planning committee of JOPCA, received 61 participants of which some 40 were young engineers from the Headquarters as well as the Reginal Development Bureaus of MLIT, Port Management Bodies, JICA, construction companies and consultants.

Last year, JOPCA compiled the results of the past activities of the workshop into a report; "The future course of technical cooperation (interim report), March 2017"

Based on this report, the meeting this time was held, taking into consideration whether: ⅰ) Japanese technical cooperation fully exercises its strength by utilizing the link with the National Port Policy, ⅱ) our society allows technical succession and human resources development while engineers, in-house and private, need to polish their skills and knowledge through the experience in actual projects, ⅲ) Japan is competitive and competent in the ODA society while PRC and Korea are very active, and ⅳ) Japan adapts to the shift of the technical cooperation, from simple infrastructure development to infrastructure system export (planning, design, construction, operation and management).

The meeting therefore mainly aimed to discuss: ⅰ) how young engineers, in-house and private, develop their engineering skills while domestic infrastructure market is shrinking, ⅱ) whether organizational strengthening and reform is sufficient while both individual as well as organizational strength is being required for technical cooperation, ⅲ) how we create a suitable environment in which young engineers understand and adopt the suitable level of technologies for the developing countries, and ⅳ) what kind of competence and capabilities are needed for engineers while the integrated skills are required for the international cooperation.

Mr. Tatsuhiko Ikeda, Chairman of JOPCA, opened the meeting referring to the issues and points of discussion as stated above. Then Mr. Michio Kikuchi, Director-General, Port and Harbor Bureau of MLIT, made a speech appreciating the effort of JOPCA of holing this meeting as a good opportunity to discuss technical cooperation which the GOJ is now promoting.

Photo 1: Mr. Ikeda

Photo 2: Mr. Kikuchi, Director-General, PHB, MLIT

2. Keynote Lecture

H.E. Mr. Hideaki Domichi made a keynote lecture titled "What is technical cooperation in port sector in the age of infrastructure system export" Mr. Domichi held various important posts including Director-general of the Middle Eastern and African Bureau of MOFA, Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ambassador to India and vice president of JICA, and has a plenty of experience and knowledge on international cooperation. He spoke the rapid expansion of demand for infrastructure in new economies and developing countries, and the gap in supplying. He then referred to Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. His speech lasted for 50 minutes, stressing in port sector the necessity of Japanese involvement in overseas infrastructure market and strengthening of price competitiveness, various official supports to the enterprises who wish to go out to overseas market, appeal to recipient countries of high level of Japanese technologies in infrastructure and proposal of rehabilitation project applying thereof, and selection of target ports within the Strategy.

Photo 3: H.E. Mr. Domichi

3. Panel Discussion

A panel discussion was held, with Mr. Ikeda as coordinator, and four (4) panelists of Mr. Junichi Yamada, Executive Director of JICA, Mr. Takashi Matsuo, Chief, Representative Office in Japan, ADB, Dr. Masafumi Miyata, Director, Port Facilities Office, Port Research Department, PARI and Dr. Osamu Kunita, OCDI.

Mr. Yamada introduced achievements of yen loan to infra-related projects, STEP loan projects, and specifically port-related projects among which he pointed out six (6) issues for improvement; further improvement of coordination in and around Dawei port of Myanmar, viewpoint of regional development on Matarbari port of Bangladesh, expeditious project implementation of Patimban port of Indonesia, improvement of company value in Sihanoukville port development of Cambodia, development of corridor of Mombasa port of Kenya and PPP scheme of Lach Huyen port of Vietnam.

Mr. Matsuo explained businesses of ADB and Japanese presence therein, and overviewed Asian population, economic development, poverty, demand for infrastructure investment, promotion of PPP and strengthening of capital market, ADB's cooperation to the PRC's "One Belt, One Road" and differences with the AIIB.

Dr. Miyata, having played a leading role in revising process of the technical standards of port and harbor in Japan, introduced the history of the standards and various related issues such as gaps with the design levels in developing countries, decline of Japanese presence in those countries. Based on his experience of the ongoing joint efforts with Vietnamese engineers for the technical standards, he then encouraged young engineers that domestic works were no different from overseas works, comprehensive understanding and optimization of work were needed, and asked senior engineers to be tolerant to youngers' faults, accumulation of lessons learnt and to requested MLIT HQs as well as JICA for involvement of PARI in the study of overseas quality infrastructure projects.

Lastly, Dr. Kunita, who had been engaging in overseas projects over thirteen (13) years in OCDI and received from JSCE an International Lifetime Contribution Award, spoke his experience of having succeeded engineering knowhow from his seniors, and mentioned some techniques suitable for developing countries such as shield tunnel technique for road construction in the coastal area, steel cell structure for breakwater, container-shaped boxes for barges. He proposed BOT scheme be promoted, in which Japanese company take risks.

Finally, Dr. Yahiro concluded the meeting by thanking the participants, especially the young engineers, commenting the importance of everyday effort to polish skills, coordination and cooperation of Public and private sectors.

Photo 4: Mr. Yamada, Mr. Matsuo, Dr. Miyata and Dr. Kunita (from right)

Photo 5: Overview of the meeting

4. Party

At the Italian restaurant Nicholas, cocktail party was held. After H.E. Mr. Donomichi toasted, participants had pleasant time chattering and asking questions the panelists. At the end, representing the young participants, Ms. Minami Yoshimatsu of the Sikoku Region Development Bureau of MLIT thanked the lecturers and concluded the party.

5. Conclusion

Details of the meeting will be up on the JOPCA HP. The participants are requested to answer the questionnaires, the results of which will be analyzed to further study this workshop including the follow-up of the participants.