9 June 2016 | It is high time for Viet Nam to hold the 3rd Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) Caravan after similar undertakings were successfully conducted in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar and Vientiane, Lao PDR in August 2015 and January 2016, respectively. The Caravan in Ha Noi is held in Melia Hotel on 9-10 June.

Following the success of the first two caravans, the third caravan this time will provide relevant agencies and localities of Viet Nam with basic and updated information about JAIF, its orientations, priorities as well as experience in cooperation and implementation of the Fund's projects, said H.E. Vu Quang Minh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam.  He added that through the various presentations by the ASEAN Secretariat, the JAIF, the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to ASEAN and related Ministries and agencies, the Caravan will help to build capacities for Vietnamese Ministries, agencies, and localities in drafting and realizing projects within the framework of JAIF. It will also help to promote realistic, effective cooperation between ASEAN and Japan as well as the Vietnam - Japan strategic partnership in the near future.

Taking the lessons learned, I encourage you to utilize the opportunity offered by this caravan to benefit more effectively from JAIF to enhance ASEAN integration and turn our forward-looking vision 2025 into a highly cohesive, integrated, competitive, innovative, dynamic, resilient, people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN Community, said H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN, who graced the opening ceremony this morning.

This occasion aims to provide a platform to introduce JAIF and its supported projects so that relevant stakeholders will be able to understand the latest development under JAIF in Viet Nam. Several presentations of JAIF-supported projects and its best practises and achievements will be shared by Vietnamese proponents. During the 2-day caravan, the participants are expected to learn and absorb the updated essential information in utilizing the JAIF support for possible future project proposals that would be in line with the overall objectives of JAIF in general and the priorities of JAIF 2.0 in particular.

H.E. Kazuo Sunaga, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN said all JAIF projects are planned and implemented under close coordination between ASEAN and Japan. In supporting ASEAN, we respect the centrality and a proactive role of ASEAN. According to the ambassador, the consultation we carry out with ASEAN's sectoral bodies and stakeholders is important for Japan as it helps us see the real needs for cooperation. We believe that well-informed proponents are indispensable to further promoting the effective and efficient utilization of JAIF. This is the reason why we started the JAIF Caravan last year. We are counting on proponents of Viet Nam to come up with more proposals which will seek support from JAIF.

The caravan is jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and the JAIF Management Team (JMT) of the ASEAN Secretariat. It was attended by officials from more than 30 line ministries, authorities and other organisations of Viet Nam and the media.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by Romeo Arca Jr.

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