By: Jiji
Date: August 28th 2016
Source: Japan Times
The land ministry plans to draft a multilateral framework that could help developing nations in Asia make better use of their land through careful planning, government sources said.
The sources said the ministry will propose the framework at the U.N. Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, in October.
One focus will be on infrastructure projects such as the building and managing of roads, railways and ports.
The ministry will seek funding for the initiative under the government’s fiscal 2017 budget, the sources said.
Developing countries have been asking for Japanese technical support given he nation’s successful development of its own infrastructure in the postwar period under a concept known as balanced land development.
Indonesia and the Philippines have land utilization plans, but have still been unable to realize them. In Vietnam, Myanmar and Cuba, economic liberalization is progressing, but disorderly development is becoming a serious social issue.
Japan, along with U.N. organizations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, will call on other countries and organizations at Habitat III such as the World Bank to join the initiative, the sources said.
Under the framework proposal, discussions will be held to find ways for solving land planning issues. After detailed support measures are worked out, Japan will offer training programs and dispatch experts, the sources said.
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