Project News

The first JICA training for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on "Developing and Implementing the Master Plan on Climate Change" was conducted from 21 October to 30 October, 2013, in the City of Yokohama, Japan. Fifteen trainees from the BMA and Thai central government participated in the training course.

Contents of the training course included discussions with Japanese local governments, such as the City of Yokohama, sharing their experiences on formulating climate change policies. The City of Yokohama and the BMA are cooperating on developing Bangkok as an urban city that is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Private companies, Kewpie Corporation and Lawson Inc., also demonstrated their activities related to climate change and the environment. Furthermore, the trainees attended a seminar on Yokohama Day, organized by the City of Yokohama, and visited a prototype smart house in the city called "Kankan kyo" by Sekisui House Ltd., to learn about this private company's activities and environmentally friendly technologies.

The training course highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships between departments in the BMA and with the other stakeholders including central government, the private sector, and citizens, as well as enhancement of capacity building activities for Bangkok's citizens. Furthermore, the BMA officials learned about institutional arrangements and activities of the Japanese local governments in relation to climate change, such as their internal processes of formulating and implementing plans, campaigns for raising awareness of the citizens, and calling for cooperation by stakeholders for collection of data and taking joint actions for mitigation and adaptation, to create a low carbon and climate resilient society.

Dr. Vallop Suwandee, Chairman of Advisors to Governor of Bangkok, at the 2nd Asia Smart City Conference in Yokohama.

A BMA official and an electrical vehicle in Yokohama

Closing Ceremony (for Executive Level)

Photo session at the site visit to "Kankan kyo" in Yokohama