Project News

On December 10, 2010, at the commencement of the Project, “Kick off Meeting” was held with all related members at Vientiane Capital.

The purpose of the meeting was to disseminate the project content to officials from the target groups including Department of Waterways (DoW), Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and Department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT) of local governments such as Vientiane Capital, Bokeo Province, Luangprabang Province, and Bolikhamxay Province.

In total of 24 participants were attended. They were the Director General as the head and nine (9) officials from DoW, six (6) officials from three (3) provinces and Vientiane Capital of DPWT, two (2) officials from JICA Laos office and one (1) JICA expert dispatched to MPWT, including one (1) translator and five (5) JICA experts delegated for the Project.

The meeting was opened with the keynote speech of Mr. Houngla SENGMUANG, Director General of DoW as the Project Director, followed by the representative from JICA Laos office and Mr. Souksavanh THITHAVONG, the Project Manager. In his speech, Mr. Souksavanh explained the outline of previous implemented JICA projects namely “The Study on Mekong Riverbank Protection around Vientiane Municipality” and “The Project on Riverbank Protection Works (Phase I)”.

A Keynote Speaker
Mr. Houngla SENGMUANG, Director General of DoW

Mr. Souksavanh THITHAVONG the Project Manager explained about previous JICA projects

Mr. Kazumitsu MURAOKA, JICA expert dispatched to MPWT, presented on Riprap Groyne Work known as one of the Japanese traditional riverbank protection measures. The pilot construction of Riprap Groyne Work was implemented at Tonpheung Village, Bokeo Province at the end of 1990’s. At the time of implementation, experience of groyne construction had been hardly implemented in Lao P.D.R., and its effect was also doubted. However, significant improvements of riverbank condition were recognized after groyne installation. Nowadays Riprap Groyne Work is adopted as one of the riverbank protection measures in Vientiane Capital as well as other provinces.

Followed by this, Mr. Taketoshi MATSUNAGA, Chief Adviser of consultant team organized by JICA presented the detail of the Project (Phase II) from November 2010 to August 2014.

At the closing of the meeting, Mr. Houngla made a speech and gave his encouragements to counterpart officials of DoW and three (3) provincial DPWT for the success of the Project. A ceremonial photograph was taken and the meeting was brought to a close.

Mr. Taketoshi MATSUNAGA, Chief Adviser explained about the Project (Phase II)

A Ceremonial Photograph after the Closing