The Government of Japan, represented by Mr. Koishi Tsutomu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Lao PDR, recently signed an exchange of documents with Ms. Bouttadi Santiphithak, Head of the Secretariat of the International Mekong Commission, on the “Project to Strengthen Water Quality Management in the Lower Mekong Basin” (support value 424 million yen).
The Lower Mekong region, which encompasses the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao PDR, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has experienced strong economic growth. However, these countries are experiencing negative impacts from the deterioration of water quality associated with mining development, rapid industrial development and wastewater discharge.
Water quality is directly linked to people’s health and livelihoods, especially drinking water, agriculture, fisheries and tourism. Therefore, strengthening measures to improve water quality through cooperation among the lower Mekong countries has become another challenge.
This project aims to support the sustainable economic development of the Mekong region by strengthening the capacity for water quality monitoring and management in the four countries mentioned above and to lay the foundation for international cooperation through the provision of equipment for water quality monitoring and pollution reduction to technical assistance related to water quality management capacity.
This project demonstrates cooperation in water resources management and disaster risk reduction as outlined in the “Mekong-Japan Cooperation Strategy 2024” to support transboundary water management efforts.
Ambassador Koishi expressed his sincere hope that this project will contribute to achieving a balance between environmental conservation and sustainable development in the lower Mekong basin; News: Embassy of Japan in Laos