On Tuesday, Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho warmly received a group of representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by its President Shinichi Kitaoka.

President Kitaoka (left) and Chairman Tho

Chairman Tho thanked JICA for assisting Da Nang to effectively deploy strategically important infrastructure development projects over recent years.  These have included the 1^st stage of the Tien Sa Port, the construction of the Hai Van road tunnel, an urban traffic improvement project, and research into strategies for increasing links between the city and its adjacent areas.  

He asked whether JICA could, as soon as possible, give loans to the city to help deploy some new local projects, and share its valuable management experience in accordance with signed bilateral agreements.  The new projects include the Da Nang Water Environment Improvement Project, the Lien Chieu Port, the Hoa Lien Commune water supply plant, a solid waste and waste water treatment complex, and research into the city’s strategic infrastructure construction and management. 

In reply, President Kitaoka remarked that JICA’s experienced experts will work closely with relevant local agencies to propose suitable plans to implement effectively the projects mention above.  He affirmed that his agency has maintained a fruitful bilateral relationship with the World Bank (WB) over recent years.  JICA, therefore, will cooperate with WB to give ODA capital to the city to deploy the projects as soon as possible. 

He also pledged that JICA would introduce foreign businesses with potential to invest in these projects, and send more of its experienced experts to Da Nang to help the city conduct research into the implementation of the projects.