Japanese Ambassador Keizo Takewaka (right), with Mr. An Pich Hatda, MRC Executive Director, exchanged the signing records at the signing ceremony.

Vientiane (VNA) – The Japanese government will provide 3.9 million USD in non-refundable aid to help the Mekong River Commission to increase its flood and drought monitoring and forecasting capability in the lower Mekong basin.

A document to this effect was signed in Vientiane, Laos, on March 13 between representatives from the Japanese government and Mekong River Commission (MRC).

The funding will be allocated in four years from 2020–2023. It is to transform the MRC’s Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre (RFDMC) in Phnom Penh into a centre of excellence in providing faster and more accurate flood and drought forecasting and early warning to the lower Mekong countries: Cambodia, Laos, Thailandand Vietnam. This grant will enable the MRC to further improve its flood and drought forecasting capability with the aim of continuing to assist the member countries to effectively tackle flood and drought risks for vulnerable communities, An Pich Hatda, Chief Executive Office of the MRC, said at the signing ceremony.

Japanese Ambassador Keizo Takewaka (right), with Mr. An Pich Hatda, MRC Executive Director, signed the records of handing over and receiving fund at the signing ceremory.

The Japanese government is one of the longstanding development partners of the MRC. Since 2001, the Japanese government has granted over 18 million USD to support several projects, including those on flood and drought management, irrigation, climate change and environmental management./.