Sugano Yuichi, Chief Representative of JICA – Vietnam Office, highlighted that 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam. In November, both nations agreed to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world.
Based on this foundation of friendship, JICA has worked to implement projects that support Vietnam's economic development.
For Japan's fiscal year, from April 2023 to March 2024, JICA Vietnam signed loan agreements totalling 102.2 billion Yen (equivalent to 678 million USD), excluding private sector investment grants, representing the highest level in six years since 2017.
Technical cooperation reached 5.2 billion Yen (equivalent to 35 million USD), the largest worldwide in the same fiscal year. Non-refundable aid commitments amounted to 1.1 billion Yen (equivalent to 7.5 million USD).
These programmes and projects have promptly supported Vietnam's economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to infrastructure and human resource development, laying a foundation for long-term economic growth, said the JICA Vietnam’s Chief Representative.
He also noted that Japanese citizens and businesses continue to show significant interest in Vietnam, which has consistently maintained stable and sustainable growth.
Vietnam ranked first among the countries where JICA is cooperating, with 45 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, 36 business investment projects by Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises in sustainable development (SDGs), and 24 grassroots technical cooperation projects (Development Partner Programme).
Additionally, Vietnam ranked second globally, with nine projects under JICA's "Private Sector Investment Financing" programme, just behind Brazil.
For specific projects, JICA Vietnam has focused on three key pillars: high-quality growth, support for vulnerable groups, and human resource development.
Highlighting projects under each pillar, Sugano Yuichi mentioned that in the "high-quality growth" category, the Binh Hung wastewater treatment plant in Ho Chi Minh City, funded by Japanese ODA loans, was inaugurated in August. Additionally, the highly anticipated Metro Line 1 project in Ho Chi Minh City has begun trial runs, and the city is preparing to launch the urban railway soon.
In the pillar of "support for vulnerable groups", Sugano Yuichi noted that JICA worked with senior experts and disaster risk management advisors sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to assist with the response to Typhoon Yagi, which recently hit northern Vietnam, causing severe damage.
In healthcare, JICA is preparing to launch a new technical cooperation project to strengthen the prevention of viral hepatitis, a common infectious disease in Vietnam. Additionally, under a grant aid project, JICA signed an agreement in May and is implementing the "Medical Equipment Upgrade at K Hospital" project to help meet the growing demand for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
For the final pillar of "human resource development", Sugano Yuichi said that 2024 marked the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan University. As of September 6, 1,110 students enrolled, including graduate students.
Furthermore, under the JICA Chair Programme aimed at promoting Japanese studies, JICA is collaborating with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) to compile a monograph for students, providing an overview of the history of Japan-Vietnam relations. The book is expected to be published soon.
The Chief Representative of JICA - Vietnam Office stated that the agency will continue promoting projects to further strengthen Japan-Vietnam relations over the next 50 years.
