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Update:March 17, 2017
“Forum on Environmental Technology Transfer for ASEAN in Mie” Takes Place
The Forum on Environmental Technology Transfer for ASEAN in Mie was held to promote environmental improvement and sustainable development in ASEAN nations, as well as overseas business by Mie-based companies which possess advanced environmental technology. This Mie Prefectural Government-sponsored event invited, as its panelists, representatives of Japan ALSi Co., Ltd., the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), ICETT, and senior central government officials from three ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Forum on Environmental Technology Transfer for ASEAN in Mie
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2017, 15:00-17:15
Venue: Ise Hall (4th Floor) at Yokkaichi Miyako Hotel
Participants: 158 individuals from companies in Mie Prefecture, governments, support organizations and other related groups
Theme: “Environmental Challenges in ASEAN countries and Environmental technology in Mie Prefecture”.
Program：
・Opening Remarks Mr. Eikei SUZUKI, Governor of Mie Prefectur
・Welcome Address Mr. Tomohiro MORI, Mayor of Yokkaichi City
Mr. Naoyuki OKAMOTO, Chairman of the Federation of Mie Chamber of Commerce and Industry
・Presentations Eco-friendly activities by Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and ICETT
・Panel Discussion
Moderator：Mr. Eikei SUZUKI, Governor of Mie Prefecture
Panelists：
- ・Mr. Noer Adi WARDOJO
Director of the Center for Standardization, Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia
・Mr. Suwan NANTHASARUT
Deputy Director General of the Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Kingdom of Thailand
・Dr. Do Nam THANG
Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
・Mr. Takashi MATSUOKA
Director of the Natural Resources, Energy and Environment Department, Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
・Mr. Noriji SAKAKURA
Director General of JICA CHUBU International Center
・Mr. Kiyoharu FUJINO
President of Japan ALSi Co., Ltd.
・Mr. Nozomu TAKEUCHI
Executive Director of ICETT
Summary：
Presentations about the current status and challenges were made by the representatives of the three ASESN countries. In the following panel discussion, the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, JICA Chubu, and Japan ALSi Co., Ltd. and ICETT introduced their activities. The comments from the three ASEAN countries were as follows.
-Indonesia
- ・It is necessary to receive assistance for surveys on waste and wastewater disposal by means of demonstration and monitoring.
・It is important to develop a cooperative environment in which information on advanced environmental technology is easily accessible. The Indonesian government will proceed with relevant plans by confirming what kind of technology is available.
-Thailand
- ・Only about 14 percent of domestic wastewater (9.6 million m3 per day) is properly treated.
・Thailand has close relationships with Japanese companies. It values the technical assistance from them and welcomes Japanese companies that will start businesses in Thailand.
・Only nearly half of the solid waste is disposed of properly. Japan is ahead in the field of waste management including relevant laws. Thailand would like Japan to provide instructions on how to manage and prevent illegal waste dumping.
-Vietnam
- ・It is quite important to have ICETT and JICA work in Vietnam. Vietnam strongly asks for the creation of databases of the highly sophisticated Japanese environmental technology and opportunities for business matching.
・It is impressive to learn at the Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Museum for Future Awareness that local residents and prefectural and city governments have worked together to tackle environmental issues.
The Mie Governor as the moderator made the following comments at the panel discussion.
- ・It is indeed important to develop and implement policies for the environment, but it is more important to promote environmental education and to get cooperation from the people.
・To overcome the Yokkaichi pollution, the Japanese government made laws, the prefectural and city governments made ordinances, and companies took effective measures. However, a key to solving the pollution problems was the local residents who voluntarily engaged in eco-friendly activities.
・The forum became very productive because it was a chance to learn that the three ASEAN countries give high priority to domestic wastewater treatment and to clearly understand what these countries expect of each sector in Japan.
・It is expected that the forum will provide opportunities to start cooperation among the participants and their organizations.
ICETT would like to express its gratitude to all those who attended or cooperated in the forum.
ICETT would also like to thank the following for the support and cooperation: the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Japan, the Royal Thai Embassy in Japan, the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Japan, the ASEAN-Japan Centre, the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Yokkaichi City Government, the Chubu Economic Federation, the Federation of Mie Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Mie Societies of Commerce and Industry, and the Yokkaichi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Events such as visits to relevant sites took place on the sidelines of the Forum on Environmental Technology Transfer for ASEAN in Mie.
Visits to Environmental Sites: Saturday, February 18, 2017, 9:00-14:00 
The ASEAN group visited NTN Mie Corporation in Kuwana City. Wastewater disposal equipment, “Bio-ALSi”, which was produced by Japan ALSi Co., Ltd., is installed there.
In the afternoon, they visited the Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Museum for Future Awareness in Yokkaichi and listened to the curator of the museum and the director of the Yokkaichi City Environment Department about the history of the Yokkaichi pollution and the efforts made to improve the environment.
Welcome Party: Saturday, February 18, 2017, 17:30-19:00 
The party was attended by 42 people: senior central government officials from ASEAN countries, Governor of Mie Prefecture, Chairman of Mie Prefectural Assembly, Mayor of Yokkaichi City, and representatives of companies, economic organizations and other relevant associations.
A variety of food produced in Mie Prefecture, such as Matsusaka beef, the Japanese spiny lobster, and the clam, were served along with Japanese sake. The sake was also served at the G7 2016 Ise-Shima Summit.
There was a show performed by the ninja from Iga City, also in Mie Prefecture, which is the cradle of the Iga-ryu ninja.
Visits to Tourist Spots: Sunday, February 19, 2017
The ASEAN group went to Mikimoto Pearl Island in the morning. There, they visited the Pearl Museum, watched the demonstration of the “Ama” female divers, and tried to take pearls out of Akoya pearl oysters.
They had lunch at Shima Kanko Hotel and toured the venue of the G7 2016 Ise-Shima Summit.
In the afternoon, the group visited and paid their respects at Kotaijingu, or Naiku, of the Ise Grand Shrine, which is the most venerable religious sanctuary in Japan. The Jingu Administration Office guided them in the precinct of the shrine.
