At the event, Kobayashi Yosuke, Chief Representative of the JICA Vietnam Office, outlined current activities, achievements, and future plans for JICA's operations in the country.

As of October 1, JICA had 46 long-term experts and 42 volunteers working across multiple provinces in Vietnam.

Beyond individual contributions, numerous Japanese organizations - including companies, universities, local governments, and NGOs - are actively collaborating with Vietnamese partners in various sectors to promote the country’s socioeconomic development.

JICA has worked with Japanese companies to transfer SABO dam construction technology to mitigate the risks of flash floods, landslides, and debris flows. The first SABO dam in Vietnam was completed in April in Son La Province.

JICA also dispatched volunteers to the National Geriatric Hospital in Hanoi to train medical staff in evaluating swallowing disorders and supported Japanese businesses in transferring elderly care nursing techniques to Bach Mai Hospital.

The organization continues to help improve living conditions in Vietnam by funding infrastructure projects through five grant aid initiatives and 15 ODA loan projects.

A recent milestone was the inauguration of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant, one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, which began operations in August.

In December of last year, Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line 1 - the first subway line in the city - officially opened, significantly improving urban mobility.

JICA is currently finalizing procedures with Vietnamese authorities to assess the feasibility of using ODA loans to develop roads, irrigation systems, and anti-erosion embankments in several northern provinces, enhancing protection against climate change.

Future cooperation goals

According to Kobayashi, JICA will align with Vietnam’s four key reform pillars aimed at achieving high-income status by 2045. These include advancing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; promoting international integration; strengthening legal frameworks; and fostering private sector growth.

Regarding innovation and digital transformation, JICA is supporting the Vietnam-Japan University in launching a bachelor's program in semiconductor engineering. The program started in September and will play a key role in building a robust semiconductor training ecosystem in Vietnam by fostering connections among stakeholders.

To accelerate AI development, JICA is also collaborating with the National Innovation Center (NIC) and Hanoi University of Science and Technology to support startups and AI research.

Building on longstanding partnerships with Vietnamese universities, such as Can Tho University, JICA will continue facilitating cooperation between Japanese and Vietnamese institutions, businesses, and research centers to develop and apply new technologies.

In terms of international integration, JICA has contributed to Vietnam’s global engagement at both macro and technical levels. Its efforts range from policy development (such as the Ishikawa 2 Project) and legal system support to technical assistance in food safety, epidemic prevention, tax systems, and intellectual property rights.

JICA has also supported Vietnam in constructing airports, seaports, roads, bridges, railways, and customs systems to strengthen multilayered connectivity between Vietnam and other countries, including Japan.

In legal reform, JICA has worked with the Central Organization Commission and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics to implement training programs, giving current and future Vietnamese leaders opportunities to learn from Japan’s experience.

To support the private sector, JICA continues to contribute policy recommendations, promote workforce training for small and medium-sized enterprises, improve access to finance, and develop infrastructure projects that enable business growth.

Kobayashi emphasized that the long-standing trust between the people of Vietnam and Japan - nurtured by “a bond of the heart” - is the solid foundation for JICA’s cooperative efforts.

Through development cooperation, JICA aims to strengthen this emotional connection while contributing to the shared growth of both countries.

Thai An