Joint Press Release with the Ministry of Foreign AffairsWater Sector Public-Private Mission Visited the Republic of IraqThe Joint Japan-Iraq Water Conference was held as a first attempt in the water sector

In Iraq, due to political instability including domestic conflicts, economic sanctions and the occurrence of the Iraq War, water-related infrastructure has not yet been sufficiently developed. However, influential local governments have taken the initiative to begin the development of such water-related infrastructure while utilizing foreign aid from overseas countries, including yen loans from Japan, and now enterprises from overseas countries are entering the country.

The water business in Iraq is an area in which Japanese companies are highly interested, and at the same time, Iraq holds high expectations for Japan as a country with outstanding technology.

As a first attempt to address this situation, METI dispatched a public-private mission concerning water to Basra Prefecture, designating Deputy Director-General Miyamoto as a leader of the mission. Basra Prefecture is a region suffering from a more serious water problem than other regions and it is highly interested in Japan's water-related technology, including membrane treatment facilities and water- and energy-saving technologies and systems which are Japan's strong points.

1) Joint Japan-Iraq Water Conference

The Iraq side explained the current situation in the water sector and prospects for future water projects in Iraq.

METI and government-affiliated organizations explained Japan's water business policy and introduced the city planning of Yokohama as a model case. Japanese private companies made presentations on their own advanced technologies related to water. In addition, both sides had a discussion over future possibilities of cooperation. At the closing of the seminar, the governments jointly released the Japan-Iraq Joint Press Statement (see Appendix(PDF:212KB) ) on the conference, concerning their future cooperation in the water sector.

2) Business-matching session

The session promoted the entry of Japanese companies into projects concerning infrastructure development in not only water but other sector, and facilitated collaboration between Japanese companies and Iraqi companies which will become local partners to Japan.

3) Site visit tour

The Japanese mission visited the site in Basra where a project to develop a water supply system is planned. Officials from the Basra prefectural government and the government of Iraq exchanged views with the Japanese mission, and both sides deepened their understanding of the current situations of water supply systems in Iraq.

It was a first attempt for Japan to dispatch a public-private mission specialized in the water sector to Iraq. It is expected to accelerate the expansion of Japanese companies into Iraq in the future, through dispatch of public-private missions and other efforts.

Government:

Mr. Satoshi Miyamoto, Deputy Director-General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau of METI, and others

Private enterprises:

Four companies, including water-related manufacturers, and others

Government-related organizations:

Three organizations (Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA))

Iraq side:

Minister of Municipality and Public Works, Governor of Basra Prefecture (ministerial level), people involved in the Ministry of Water Resources, representatives from Iraqi companies in the region, and others

Japan side:

Members of the mission, and representatives from Japanese companies

Please visit the following website:

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/mono_info_service/water_business/index.html

February 25, 2013

Water Industry and Infrastructure Systems Promotion Office, Manufacturing Industries Bureau