Project News

On May 19, 2011, the first meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) for the Project was held at Vientiane Capital.

JCC acts as the most important meeting in the Project, which is to be attended by all relevant stakeholders from both Lao and Japanese sides, and aims to discuss the project progress, annual work plans for the following years and other concerned issues.

On behalf of H.E. Mr. Sommad PHOLSENA, Minister of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), H.E. Mr. Bounchanh SINTHAVONG, Vice Minister of MPWT was appointed as the chairperson for the first JCC meeting.

In total of 23 participants were attended. Participants except the chairperson were Mr. Houngla SENGMUANG, Director General and other six (6) officials from Department of Waterways (DoW) of MPWT (including four (4) counterpart officials), one (1) official from Department of Planning and Cooperation of MPWT, one (1) official from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, one (1) official each from Department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT) of Bokeo Province, Bolikhamxay Province and Luangprabang Province, one (1) official from Global Environment Department of JICA headquarter, three (3) officials from JICA Laos office and six (6) JICA experts delegated for the Project.

H.E. Mr. Bounchanh SINTHAVONG
Vice Minister of MPWT as the Chairperson

The First JCC Meeting

Prior to the meeting, a keynote speech by the chairperson and opening speech by Mr. Masato TOGAWA, Chief Representative of JICA Laos office were given, and lead to the project activity report for the first year presented by Mr. Souksavanh THITHAVONG, the Project Manager of Lao side.

An annual work plan for the second year was also explained by Mr. Taketoshi MATSUNAGA, Chief Adviser of consultant team organized by JICA for the Project.

By Dr. Hiroshi TAKAGI, Associate Expert of JICA headquarter, the importance of disaster preparedness was pointed out referring to the present situation of Japan after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and JICA’s expectations on Lao side through the Project were presented.

After all, above reports and explanations were mutually discussed as topics by participants and summarized by the chairperson as follows.

1. JCC membership accepted the result of project activities for the first year.
2. JCC membership accepted the annual work plan for the second year.
3. JCC membership and attendance confirmed the following project policy;
   • Counterpart (C/P) needs to have proper knowledge to be able to choose appropriate methods suit for river conditions.
   • The Project should aim at the dissemination of eco-friendly and low-cost riverbank protection for all provinces in the future.
   • C/P should possess comprehensive knowledge for materializing eco-friendly and low-cost riverbank protections by themselves.
4. JCC membership also accepted and confirmed other seven (7) topics.