Laos-Japan project officials assess progress of water supply upgrade

Government officials and project staff from Laos and Japan last week met in Vientiane to discuss the progress of the Project for Improvement of Management Capacity of Water Supply Sector (MaWaSU 2).
The project, which is taking place from May 2018 to May 2023, is a technical cooperation project supported by JICA with the aim of strengthening the water supply sector in terms of the government’s management system and the operational ability of Water Supply State Enterprises.
The main purpose of the conference was to present the annual progress report on project activities to all stakeholders, and to introduce Japanese products and technology that can be applied in Laos to improve waterworks operations.
Seventeen activity progress reports were made by officials and staff involved in the project, while 10 Japanese companies made product introduction presentations.
The conference was arranged by the Department of Water Supply under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the MaWaSU 2 project.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Supply, Mr Phoukeo Thammavong, and Director of the Water Supply Planning and Guidance Office, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Mr Junichi Hioki.
Also present were officials from JICA Headquarters, members of the Japan Water Works Association and staff from Japanese water supply utilities that intensively support the project by sending experts and accepting trainees in Japan.
Officials from the Department of Public Works and Transport and Water Supply State Enterprises across the country were also in attendance.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Hioki said he highly valued the project activities that had developed the ability of Lao officials and staff, and expressed the hope that Japanese products and technology could be used to improve water supply in Laos in the near future.
Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Supply, Mr Sompong Sithivong, expressed his appreciation to the Japanese ministry and JICA for all their support as well as his determination to achieve the project goals.
The project has four outputs: Output 1: Enhancement of transparency, accountability and governance in water supply sector institutions by improving the administration of water supply services.
Output 2: Enhancement of the capacity of Water Supply State Enterprises for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of water supply projects. Output 3: Development of technical standards necessary for water supply service. Output 4: Operational capacity necessary for Water Supply State Enterprises to provide water supply service is enhanced.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 5, 2020)