Project News

Mr. GOSEKI (right) made the presentation in front of Prof. OGATA (left).

"Dien Bien Province, famous in the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, is now fighting for realizing Sustainable Forest Management", Mr. GOSEKI, Chief Advisor of SUSFORM-NOW, started his presentation, introducing the project, at the International Symposium on GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion), held at NEU (National Economic Univ.) in Hanoi, on 27 Aug. 2010, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the founding of Chuo Univ. in Japan.

The International Symposium, "Green Economic Corridor and Ecovillage Development", was the first step of the Pilot Model Project which will be launched on in the next year by Chuo Univ., cooperating with NEU and ISPONRE (Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment).   Along with the development of "Economic Corridors," it needs to remedy for economic disparities among regions and sustainable lives in rural areas, by developing "Green Economic Corridor."    Thus, the Pilot Model Project aims to create sustainable "ecovillages" and community network, build local brands, construct roadside stations and farmers markets, and introduce "ecotourism," which are effective ways.

All the participants paid attention on Mr. GOSEKI's presentation.   He pointed out that close relation between "Green Economic Corridor" and the SUSFORM-NOW Project, the latter is implemented in Dien Bien Phu, a post town has historically been the hub of north-south and east-west trade roads, and aims to sustain participatory forest management, ecological aspect, and livelihood development, economical aspect, mutually.   In addition, he stressed the SUSFORM-NOW Project needs to exchange experiences of the "Green Economic Corridors" with advance activities in Viet Nam and other GMS countries.

Resource persons and organizers of the Symposium

All the audiences of the Symposium, including researchers and students of Chuo Univ. and NEU, were impressed by presentations made by the leading researchers and practitioners in the field of "Green Economic Corridor" and "ecovillages", such as Prof. OGATA, Chuo Univ. and co-chairman of the Symposium, Prof. Le Dang Doanh, former President of CIEM (Central Institute for Economic Management), Assoc. Prof. Nguyen The Chinh, Deputy Director General of ISPONRE, Assoc. Prof. Le Thu Hoa, Dean of NEU, and Mr. Nguyen Sy Linh, researcher of the Institute of Ecological Economy (Eco Eco).

It was a good opportunity for SUSFORM-NOW Project to advertise itself in public.   As one of the positive impacts, Assoc. Prof. Chinh made an immediate visit to SUSFORM-NOW Project Office in Dien Bien Phu to exchange views and opinions with the Project members on 6 Sep. 2010.