INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

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vol.

2020

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N E W S L E T T E R

glish VernE

Purposes of Establishment
The International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer (ICETT) has

been established through industry-public-academia cooperation for the purposeof transferring environmental technology possessed by Japan and othercountries to other regions in order to alleviate environmental problems on a
global scale.

By implementing various projects in different countries with consideration

given to their characteristics and proceeding with smooth technology transfer,

ICETT strives to achieve conservation of the global environment and sustainable
development of the global economy.

Table of Contents
Training and Guidance
2 ● Tianjin Environmental Interaction Programcommissioned by Yokkaichi City

3 ● Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Science Plan),subsidized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

4・5 ● The Project on Working Together with the Government andCitizens for Zero waste Society Promotion in Ibobang, Ngatpang andMongami, Aimeliik, Republic of Palau
under JICA Partnership Program (Local Government Type)

Research and Analysis
6 ● Project to Support for Local Innovation by Regional Core Companies(Support Project for Establishing New, Resource-Recycling-Oriented
Business Models in the Chubu Region)commissioned by the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

7 ● Survey of Business Opportunities for Overseas Expansion
commissioned by Yokkaichi City

8 ● Providing Support for Plastic-Recycling Companies to Operate
AbroadIndependent ProjectInternational Exchange and Partnership
9 ● Providing Support for Financial Arrangements for Clean Energy
Projects
commissioned by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Partnership（REEEP）

10 ● High School Students' Global Environment Schoolcommissioned by Yokkaichi City

Information Dissemination and Awareness-Raising
11 ● Environmental Seminars
Independent Project

Column
11 ● Delegation to Vanuatu
In this newsletter, the icons of SDGs, to which the article is related, isnoted on top of the page.

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2020 Vol.28

Training andGuidance
Yokkaichi City

Tianjin Environmental Interaction Program
Overview
Yokkaichi City and Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China, have interacted in a wide variety of fields since they
concluded a friendship city agreement in 1980. As part of such interaction, we have been commissioned by Yokkaichi
City since 1993 to organize training sessions to help Tianjin City alleviate its environmental problems. The events heldin Yokkaichi City and Tianjin City have been attended so far by 136 people and 984 people, respectively. Featuring thetheme“Improvement of Water Environment,”the FY 2019 events consisted of a seminar in Tianjin City and a training
session in Yokkaichi City.

Background and Purposes
While achieving a remarkable economic progress,
Tianjin City is experiencing many environmental
problems, requiring the city to alleviate them
immediately. Accordingly, we implemented thisprogram to help the city improve its environmentby enabling officials of the city’s Ecology andEnvironment Bureau to learn Japanese environmental
technology and management methods.

Contents

learned at the seminar held in October. They also visited acompany in Osaka Prefecture and the prefecture’s Water
Bureau and learned about water treatment technology anda project of combined use of water restored from sewage.

At the training session held in Japan

１）Environmental Conservation Seminar in Tianjin City

We held a two-day seminar in Tianjin City on
October 9 and 10, 2019, drawing 67 people, including
officials from the city’s Ecology and Environment
Bureau and researchers. At the seminar, experts from
Tianjin City explained the current situation of thecity’s water environment, while experts from Japangave presentations on“Systems for Conserving Water
Environment,”“Restoration of Water Environment
in Polluted, Closed Waters,”and“Responsible-Care
Activities at Plants in Coastal Areas.” The final
session on the second day featured a free discussion
on improvement of water environment.

At the environmental conservation seminar２）Training Session in JapanThe training session, held in Japan for 14 days from November 10 to 23, 2019, was attended by six people, including officials from the Ecology and Environment Bureau of
Tianjin City. After learning from officials from Yokkaichi
City about the city’s present environmental efforts, theparticipants learned about the Japanese legal system andtechnology regarding prevention of water pollution. In addition, they visited companies and public agencies to learn
not only about technology to conserve water quality but
also about environmental education and corporate responsibilities.
The participants also visited a canal in Amagasaki toactually observe technology used for restoring an appropriate environment in closed waters, about which they had
2020 Vol.28

Results and Outlook
We have received the following comments from participants in the environmental conservation seminar in Tianjin City and participants in the training session in Japan:(Environmental Conservation Seminar)
・The seminar has given us extensive insights useful for
improving the water environment. The seminar is really
helpful for my work.
・The seminar included not only an introduction to
Japanese environmental policy but also an explanation of
actual examples, enabling me to learn a lot. The seminarhas made me aware of the sustainability of pollution
prevention projects.
・We engaged in a discussion from various viewpoints
from China and Japan, which enabled me to find outthat the countries’environment improvement targets
and measures conform to a significant extent.
(Training Session in Japan)
・The session, a combination of theory and practice,handled a rich lineup of topics and provided easy-tounderstand explanations. I’
m very satisfied.
・I was able to learn about treatment of polluted waterand rainwater in all aspects, making me feel that myknowledge has been enhanced.
In 2018, the Chinese central government’s former
Bureau of Environmental Protection and the environmentalorganizations in other ministries were integrated andupgraded into the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
As indicated by this, China in general is now focusing on
environmental improvement, increasing expectations forthis program. We will continue to handle themes in linewith Tianjin City’s problems and strive to help the city
improve its environment.
2

Training andGuidance
Japan Science and Technology Agency(JST)

Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Science Plan)
Overview
JST SAKURA Science Plan has intended to provide opportunities for young excellent people from countries andregions mainly in Asia to experience cutting-edge Japanese science and technology, thereby promoting interaction,such as joint research on a continuing basis, with excellent overseas talents who can contribute to innovation in thefield of science and technology. As we did in FY 2018, we invited 10 high school students and two leaders (teachers)
from the Republic of Palau (Palau) and organized an interaction program themed on environmental conservation in lightof Palau’s problem with waste management.

Background and PurposesWith growth in the number of tourist, Palau is now
experiencing a continuous increase in the amountof waste. Meanwhile, waste incineration is not inplace in the country. To use a newly establishedwaste landfill site as long as possible, the country
urgently needs to reduce the amount of waste.
With the background of this waste management
problem, we provided an opportunity for high school
students from Palau to learn about cutting-edge
Japanese science and technology with the theme ofenvironmental conservation so that they could deepen
their understanding about Japanese efforts regarding
waste management.

Contents
１）Overview

Inviting a total of 10 students from the public Palau
High School (PHS) and the private Belau Modekngei
School (BMS）, we held a seven-day program from
September 4 to 10, 2019, so that they could deepen theirunderstanding of waste management through Japanesescience and technology. They attended lectures, a facility
tour and a practicum to learn about a wide variety of
aspects of Japanese science and technology, such as
appropriate waste management methods employed by
local governments and companies in Japan, recycling
technology, and research and analysis methods used byuniversities and research institutes.

２）Relationship with Mie Prefecture
The high school students paid a courtesy visit to Mie Prefecture, with which Palau has a friendship agreement, and learned,
for example, about the history of the interaction between Palauand Japan, typical waste processing method adopted in Japan,
and Mie Prefecture’s campaign of replacing plastic bags withreusable bags. Particularly because 2019 marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationshipbetween Japan and Palau, and because the father of the former
Palau President was from Mie Prefecture, the high school students seemed to feel even closer to Mie Prefecture, making theatmosphere during the interaction with officials from the prefecture very friendly.
３）Interaction and Experience
At Mie University, the high school students learned aboutwind power generation through a strong-wind experiment usinglarge-scale wind tunnel experiment equipment and group work
under support from professors and university students. Afterwards, they visited the Mie Prefecture Health and Environment
Research Institute, where they observed analysis equipment
3

and tried measuring the turbidity of tap water, hot spring water, etc. They also visited the Nagoya City Science Museum. At
all these facilities, all the high school students observed various
items very attentively with curiosity.
They also interacted with Japanese high school students andlocal residents in various ways. This year was the second timeto interact with students of Mie Prefectural Kawagoe HighSchool. They joined an English class and introduced their country Palau and high school life. They also enjoyed a traditional
Palau dance together withmembers of the English
club, making the interaction
even more exciting. Moreover, they spent a holiday
at homes of local volunteer
members. They, thus, experienced a wide variety ofAt the Mie Prefecture Health andEnvironment Research Instituteaspects of Japanese culture.

Results and Outlook
It seems that this program has enabled the high school
students from Palau to become aware of their country’scurrent condition of waste management and ideal methods
once again. After returning to Palau, the ten high school
students gave presentations to an audience of about 100
students at a joint debriefing session organized by their
two high schools. They spoke about what they had learnedin Japan in terms of the environment, the excellence ofJapanese technology, and the richness and beauty ofJapan, sharing their lessons and experiences in Japan withmany other students.
We have received appreciation from the principals of
the two high schools, who commented that the program
served as a very good interaction opportunity for theschools and that it was significant to join the program,designed to enable participants to learn about Japanesescience and technology from a wide range of aspects, tofoster high-level human resources.
We would like to take this opportunity to express
our appreciation to the Japan Science and Technology
Agency (JST), which enabled us to further consolidate
our relat ionships
with Palau and thetwo high schools, aswell as our gratitude
to M ie Prefecture ,Yokkaichi City, anda ll t he ot hers in
the prefecture who
supported us.
After completing the program
2020 Vol.28

Training andGuidance
Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA)The Project on Working Together with the Government and Citizens for Zero Waste Society in Ibobang,
Ngatpang and Mongami, Aimeliik, Republic of Palau under JICA Partnership Program (Local Government Type)
Overview
Together with the Republic of Palau (Palau), the Bureau of Public Works (BPW) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure,
Industries and Commerce, high schools, and other cooperating organizations, Mie Prefecture and we have been engaged
in the planning and implementing of the project“The Project on working together with the government and citizens forzero waste society in Ibobang, Ngatpang and Mongami, Aimeliik, Republic of Palau (Local Government Type)”as a JICA
Partnership Program for three years from August 20, 2018 to August 19, 2021.

Background and Purposes
Palau is a small island country with an area ofapproximately 488 km 2 and with a population of
approximately 20,000. Surrounded by beautiful seas,
the country draws many tourists, sometimes 85,000
people a year, making waste reduction a serious
problem.
For this project, we have selected the two regionsof Ibobang of Ngatpang and Mongami of Aimeliik,
together with our counterpart BPW (C/P), andhave been encouraging local residents to engage
in recycling efforts. We are striving to reduce theamount of waste to be dumped into the new landfillsite currently being constructed in Aimeliik.

(International Organization Pacific Islands Ceter)
Regions in Palau to be covered by this projectContents
１）Local Activities

In the early phase of this project, we establishedWorking Teams for Promoting Zero-waste Society(W/Ts), consisting of local residents of Ibobang andMongami. As the leaders of the project, W/Ts strive
to continue activities in cooperation with the Palau
national government, their state governments, andlocal residents.
We provide opportunities not only for residents of the2020 Vol.28

regions but also for students of Palau High School andBelau Modekngei School, who are expected to play
the main role in Palau in the future, to consider waste
reduction and recycling, thereby striving to receive
continuous cooperation. To this end, we have ensured
that awareness-raising poster designs created byhigh school students are used for collection calendars
distributed to local residents in the regions.
This fiscal year, of the waste dumped altogether by
each household into a drum, we have designated thefollowing six types of waste as recycling resources:
food cans; gas cans; plastics as soft and hard types,
etc.; glass containers other than those for beverages;
and paper (cardboard, newspapers, copy paper,etc.). While referring to examples of Japan, we haveestablished four recycling stations each in Ibobang
and Mongami, followed by a launch of separate
collection in January. Local residents are engaged inseparation of waste so that the collected resources
can be recycled, leading to the reduction of waste to
be dumped into the landfill site.

２）Training Session in Japan
Inviting eight people, such as officials from the national
government of Palau and the relevant state governments
and members of W/Ts, we held a nine-day training session
from June 11 to 19, 2019, in Mie Prefecture.
The participants learned about administrative efforts
regarding waste management from officials of Mie Prefecture and waste disposal plans and environmental
education from officials of Yokkaichi City. Afterwards,
thanks to cooperation from the residents’association of
Komono-town, they observed how local residents separated waste in cooperation with their local government. They
also visited a company and a public agency, where theylearned about final treatment of waste, how drifted wastes
are handled in Toba City, sales of recycled goods, the recycling of used food oil, and technology for recycling wastecars, which is expected to become a problem in Palau aswell in the near future.
The training session also included a tea-ceremony experience so that the participants could feel the spirit of Japaneseculture. They also visited Ise Shrine, where they learned
that Shikinen-Sengu (periodical transfer of deity to the newshrine from the old) allowed not only construction techniques
but also the shrines’pillars, gates, labels, etc. to be handed
down to the next generation.
After returning to Palau, the participants were engaged
in discussion on a recycling station design, where theypresented various comments while referring to the recycling
stations that they had observed during their stay in Japan.

4Training andGuidance
Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA)

ColumnPalauans’Favorite Item
“Betel nuts”

Recycling used food oil into soap (as part of the training session in
Japan)

Results and Outlook
For this project, we have held resident meetings incooperation with the BPW (C/P) to provide detailed
explanations to local residents. We have been proceedingwith the project while incorporating opinions fromresidents to the extent possible and forming consensus.
After holding the training session in Japan, we organizeda joint presentation event and invited residents from thetwo regions so that the training participants’information
could be shared. Now that net baskets for collecting
waste have been prepared and recycling stations havebeen constructed/installed, local residents are becoming
increasingly aware of their commitment to waste reduction.
The six types of waste that have never been recycled
so far are now collected. The BPW keeps records of theweight of such waste each time and announces to residents
how much waste is collected and recycled.
In Ibobang, where the project is going on ahead ofMongami, local residents talk with one another regarding
how to use their recycling stations and problems occurring
while they are in use, and they devise improvement
measures each time.
In Mongami, it is expected that local residents may
have some problems while they continue to use recycling
stations. We hope, however, that the region’s W/T will
engage in discussions on a voluntary basis to continue
their efforts and lead local residents to solve such problems.
While continuing our local activities, we would like to findeven better ways, help the waste separation and recycling
efforts continue in Palau, and ensure that the initiative to
reduce waste takes root in the country.

Also called“binrou,”betel nut is a species ofpalm and a typical favorite item mainly in SouthEast Asia, like cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
In Palau, both men and women prefer betel
nuts to cigarettes. It is said that if you chew nutsof the tree together with slaked lime (powdered
coral), you will feel uplifted. When this happens,
the inside of your mouth becomes red, due toa chemical reaction. You need to spit out theremaining pieces after chewing and your saliva
because it is bad for your health to swallow them
down. While local residents use PET bottles or
empty cans when spitting them out indoors, someoften spit them out onto the streets.
Most people in Palau know that betel nuts are
not good for their health, but they cannot stop
the custom. Actually, children do not chew betel
nuts, which they can enjoy after becoming adults.
The remaining pieces of betel nuts after being
chewed contain a lot of saliva, and if you spit
them out into PET bottles or empty cans, thecontainers can no longer be collected as recycling
resources. Together with other types of waste,they are dumped into open dumps or landfill sites.
While respecting the custom of people in Palau,
we would like to continue exploring ways tosomehow handle and process such containers
used for spitting the remaining pieces afterchewing betel nuts, as part of our efforts forCollecting waste at a recycling station

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promoting the concept the“3Rs.”

2020 Vol.28

Research andAnalysis
Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Project to Support for Local Innovation by Regional Core Companies (Support Project for
Establishing New, Resource-Recycling-Oriented Business Models in the Chubu Region)
Overview
Solar panels are expected to be discarded in a large quantity in the future, and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP)
is causing an issue regarding landfills. Striving to create businesses regarding recycling of these items in the Chubu
region, we have implemented this project to consolidate our network in cooperation with private companies, testing andresearch institutes, etc. both inside and outside the region and to provide multi-angle support for local key companies
with excellent recycling technology to establish new business models whether at home or abroad.

Background and Purposes
In June 2019, the Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry released Outline of the Circular Economy
Vision (Draft), which presents the direction to betaken by Japan and stipulates that it is necessary torecycle CFRP and solar panels as part of a recycling
system to address new waste disposal issues arisingin step with technological progress. In addition, in
the Chubu region, major manufacturing industries
such as automobiles and aircraft are concentrated,
and there are many arterial industries, research andsupport organizations with advanced technologicalcapabilities. Each business establishment works
in close cooperation in line with the government’sresource recycling policy, and this project is tosupport businesses working to build a resource
recycling business model for solar panels and CFRP.

Contents
１）Establishing a network for creating a new supply
chain for recycling solar panels

It is expected that the generation of solar panel
waste will hit its peak from 2035 to 2037, with anannual amount of such waste estimated to be 170,000
tons to 280,000 tons (1.7 to 2.7% of the industrial waste
to be disposed of). Solar panels have a very robust
structure containing glass and solar battery cells
sealed together using ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) toenhance their long-term durability and weatherability.
Accordingly, the separation and removal of such EVA
is a big issue in recycling solar panels. Presently, it isoften the case that used solar panels are disposed ofat controlled final disposal sites with low disposal fees.
In the future, it is expected that massive disposal of
used solar panels will cause final disposal sites forindustrial waste to become full, requiring effective useof such panels as resources.
With this background, we have conducted aninterview survey with companies and organizations
regarding the reuse and recycling of solar panels
and identified issues to be addressed. We have alsoorganized a seminar regarding the recycling of solar
panels and meetings with parties concerned.

２）Expanding a network regarding the recycling of
CFRP
Presently, most waste CFRP is disposed of at landfill
sites. Striving to establish a society where such wastematerial can be used effectively, we have organized a sem2020 Vol.28

inar so that people in a wide variety of positions can learn
about advanced efforts. In addition, we have held meetings
for business operators to exchange opinions regarding issues of the formation of CFRP recycling businesses.
３）Conducting EU technology trend research andinterviews with those concerned to prepare forJapan-Germany joint research to further develop
CFRP recycling technolog y, and disseminating
relevant information
To provide support for local key companies with excellent technology for recovering carbon fibers from CFRP to
expand their operations both at home and abroad, we haveconducted interviews with domestic intermediate-substrate manufacturers and other organizations regarding
their recycling efforts, and we exchanged opinions with
E.U. public research institutes and government officials.
４）C o o p e r atin g wit h a la r g e c om p a ny fo r o p e ninnovation
The Open Innovation Office of the Innovation Department, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., has provided us with the latest
information on various needs, based on which we haveprovided opportunities of match-making with SMEs withtechnology to address such needs.

Results and Outlook
Regarding the recycling of solar panels, we haveensured that new efforts are launched toward the useof glass recycled from panels by holding a seminarand meetings for exchanging opinions among parties
concerned. For the recycling of CFRP, we have conductedinterviews with companies to identify issues to be solved
toward the formation of CFRP recycling businesses. At
the same time, we have established a new network toward
cooperative efforts by organizing a seminar for introducing
advanced measures and meetings for exchanging opinions
among business operators.
It is expected that the results and network generated bythis project, including those by the match-making for open
innovation, will facilitate the progress of various future
activities.

At the solar panel recycling seminar

6

Research andAnalysis
Yokkaichi City

Survey of Business Opportunities for Overseas Expansion
Overview
For Yokkaichi City-based SMEs considering business development in Haiphong and its surrounding areas, we haveconducted research to collect important information with which they can make decisions, such as information on local
needs, the operating environment and support from administrative agencies, and compiled the research results into
documents to be provided to companies.

Background and Purposes
In 2016, Yokkaichi City concluded memoranda with
the Ministry of Planning and Investment of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) and Haiphong City
regarding interaction mainly through mutual cooperationand collaboration in the field of economy.
Based on the memoranda, Yokkaichi City has sentdelegations, led by the mayor or the Chamber of Commerceand Industry, to Hanoi City and Haiphong City since2016 in order to visit Japanese companies operating there
and government agencies and to observe the cities’
infrastructure. At the same time, delegations from Haiphong,including the vice director of the city’s foreign affairs
department, have also visited Yokkaichi City to speak atseminars for Yokkaichi City-based SMEs about Haiphong
City and advantages to be enjoyed by Japanese companies
considering operating businesses in the city. Both Yokkaichi
City and Haiphong City have thus been engaged in efforts
to invigorate economic interaction.
We have implemented this research project for collecting
and disseminating important information so that Yokkaichi
City-based SMEs considering business development in
Haiphong and its surrounding areas can make decisions,such as information on local needs, the operating
environment and support from administrative agencies.

Contents
From July 29 to August 3, 2019, we conducted local
research to identify needs and collect information from organizations operating in a wide variety of fields. This was
feasibility research designed to help Yokkaichi City-based
SMEs develop new businesses in Haiphong or make newinvestment in the existing businesses already developed in
Vietnam by such companies. Before conducting the research,
we had conducted online research and document retrieval
and also participated in seminars for companies making inroads into Vietnam.
In Vietnam, we interviewed the local government agency
Haiphong People’s Committee to learn about the city’scurrent condition and preferential treatment for foreigncompanies and other support measures. Afterwards, weinterviewed the operator of an industrial complex located in
the city and Japanese companies operating in the complex
regarding advantages granted to foreign companies starting
their operations in the complex, the background of their
expanding their businesses to Haiphong, and their operating
situations. In addition, we also interviewed the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam Office, the Japan
External Trade Organization (JETRO) Hanoi Office and other support agencies regarding Vietnam’s trends in various
fields, such as economy and investment environment.
7

We also made confirmation not only about advantages
and points to note for companies trying to make inroads into
Haiphong City, but also about expected achievements bycompanies operating in the manufacturing, service, environmental conservation, logistics, and education industries as entities working in fields where they can contribute to solving
local problems through technical support.
We have compiled these research results into documents
so that Yokkaichi City-based SMEs can refer to them when
considering developing businesses in Haiphong, Vietnam.

Results and Outlook
This project has enabled us to check the economic development
situation of Haiphong City and support measures provided by
local administrative agencies, such as preferential treatment, as
well as the situations of Japanese companies already launching
their businesses there. Accordingly, we have identified thefeasibility of Yokkaichi based-companies’making inroads into thecity.
The interviews conducted as part of our local research haverevealed that Japanese products are highly recognized for theirhigh quality, indicating that the reliability of Japanese products ishigh among local residents.
In Haiphong City, an AEON Mall is currently being
constructed and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2020. It
might be a good option to take this opening as an opportunity
to promote the high quality of Japanese products and attractive
points of merchandise from Yokkaichi City.
We hope that Yokkaichi City and Haiphong City will further
consolidate their ties and proceed with economic interaction,
thereby facilitating Yokkaichi City-based SMEs to develop theirbusinesses in Haiphong City and its surrounding areas.

Visit to Haiphong People's Committee

Haiphong with its development in progress2020 Vol.28

Research andAnalysis
Independent Project

Providing Support for Plastic-Recycling Companies to Operate Abroad
Overview
We are striving to ensure that agreements are concluded in the framework of JICA’s support project for SMEs toengage in SDGs businesses as part of our efforts to promote the recycling of plastic resources by helping companies
with excellent environmental conservation technology to develop their businesses in Pacific island countries. In FY
2019, we organized a seminar and workshop in Nagoya City and conducted preliminary research in Fiji.

Background and Purposes
Based on t he Japanese government’s Plast ic
Resource Recycling Strategy (as of May 31, 2019), wewould like to contribute to solving problems related to
the global environment and waste through transfer ofenvironmental technology.
In particular, small island countries in Oceania haveproblems with processing waste, including waste
plastic, because of their small areas and isolated,
remote, and oceanic locations. To solve the problems,much expectation is placed on corporate technology
by JICA, which has been engaged for years in a
local technology cooperation project regarding waste
management.

Contents
１）Seminar and workshop

On February 4, 2020, we held a seminar and workshop in Nagoya City for considering potentials of environment businesses in Pacific island countries.
Pacific island countries are blessed with a rich lineup of sightseeing resources, while they are susceptible
to the impact from a population increase and global
warming, meaning that consideration for environmental conservation should be given in the countries. At
the event, we provided the participants with information on the potentials of environmental businesses,
waste-related businesses in particular. The event also
included a Q&A session and opportunities for participants to exchange opinions.

At the seminar and workshop (Nagoya Innovator’s Garage)２）Preliminary Research in Fiji
We conducted preliminary research for 14 days fromFebruary 22 to March 6, 2020 in the Republic of Fiji (Viti
Levu Island) mainly for the following three purposes:
１．Identifying the current situation and problems ofwaste (plastic waste in particular);2020 Vol.28

２．Collecting information to ascertain the feasibility ofJapanese companies with plastic waste processing
technology to develop their businesses; and３．Participating in a public-private joint economic mission
organized by the international organization PacificIslands Centre (PIC), and exchanging information
In Fiji, we met members from nearly 30 waste-relatedorganizations and groups, such as the Ministry of
Waterways and Environment, JICA’s Fiji Office and JICA’s
Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion ofRegional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in PacificIsland Countries (J-PRISM), as well as officials from local
governments and staff from the hotel and sightseeing
industry, the manufacturing industry, recycling companies,
universities, etc. While gathering local information, we
introduced Japanese companies’technology of processing
waste plastic.

Recycling station in Lautoka City (introduced as part of JICA J-PRISM project)

Results and Outlook
At the seminar and workshop, we provided theparticipants with basic information on the current
situations of Pacific island countries, while establishinga network with companies and organizations interested
in Pacific island countries.
Local preliminary research has enabled us toconfirm that there are high demand for waste
management and an urgent need for its improvementin Fiji. In addition, our research has found that very
favorable, high expectations are placed on Japanesecompanies’waste processing technology by the Fiji
government, local governments, companies, etc.
Based on the findings of the preliminary research,
we will organize a second workshop for interested
companies. We will continue to carry out various
efforts, including visiting Fiji once again, to ensurethat agreements are concluded in the framework ofJICA’s support project for SMEs to engage in SDGs
businesses.
8International Exchange
and Partnership
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership(REEEP)

Providing Support for Financial Arrangements for Clean Energy Projects
Overview
To support developing countries’measures against climate change and clean energy businesses, we have been
supporting the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN), designed to help business developers raise funds. In FY
2019, as part of the initiative, we organized a business development workshop and investment forum in Asia and an
investment forum in West Africa, commissioned by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership（REEEP）.

Background and Purposes
It is indicated that behind the failure to realize
clean energy businesses, there are often barriers, suchas a shortage of business developers’capabilities toprepare business plans necessary for fund-raising andto give presentations on their business plans and ashortage of match-making opportunities for businessdevelopers and investors.
To remove these barriers, the PFAN project has
been implemented to provide business developers
with advice and instructions for preparing proposal
documents and to organize investment forums asmatch-making opportunities for business developers
and investors to support their fund-raising, thereby
striving to contribute to the realization of clean energy
businesses in developing countries.

Contents１）Business development workshop and investment
forum in Asia (Asia Forum for Climate and Clean
Energy Financing: AFCCEF-9)① Business development workshop
Date:
April 23 – 25, 2019
Venue:
Bangkok, Thailand (Arnoma Grand
Bangkok Hotel)
Participants: 57 in total (business developers, experts,
etc.)
Placed as a workshop to prepare for an investment
forum (AFCCEF-9), this event was held for 20 business developers whose projects had passed the firstround (application screening) of the selection process.
At the workshop, the business developers received
instructions fromexperts and investors regarding
bu s i ne s s p l a n s
and presentations
to investors.
Business developers, experts and PFAN staff② Investment forum (AFCCEF-9)
Date:
November 1, 2019
Venue:
Singapore (Marina Bay Sands, Sands
Expo and Convention Centre)
Participants: 138 in total (investors, business developers, experts, judges, etc.)
At this event, 10 business developers who had
passed the second round of the screening process
after the business development workshop gave presentations on their business plans to investors andthose from financial institutes, hoping that their presentations would serve as a threshold of obtaining
9

funding. To draw many more influential investors, theinvestment forum was held as part of the Asia Clean
Energy Summit (ACES), organized by the Sustainable
Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS).
We held the forum as a competition. As a result of
screen i ng , t he
awa rds went to
the following business developers,s ome of wh ichhave alreadyreached financing
agreements withAt the investment forum
investors.
〇 Winner
・Manufacture and sales of biomass fuel mainly in
Cambodia〇 Runners-up (two business developers)
・Sharing system of electric bicycles in Vietnam
・Irrigation management system for medium- andsmall-scale farmers in India, etc.
２）Investment forum in West Africa (West Africa Forum for
Climate and Clean Energy Financing: WAFCCEF-4)

Date:
Venue:

September 26, 2019
Abidjan, Côte d’
Ivoire(African Development Bank)
Participants: 77 in total (business developers, experts, etc.)
We held the forum as a competition, where eightbusiness developers
who had passed
the paper screening
pro ces s gave pre sentations on theirbu s i ne s s pl a ns t o
At the forum venue
investors to ask for(Africa Development Bank)financing.
In accordance with the results of the screening, theawards went to thebusiness developers
below. Even after the
event, the PFAN iscontinuing to provide
support for businessdevelopers to obtainfunding.
At the award ceremony〇 Winner
・Solar power generation business in Nigeria〇 Runners-up (three business developers)
・Solar power business in Togo
・Power generation using waste in Ghana
・LED lighting and solar power business in Ghana
2020 Vol.28

International Exchange
and Partnership
Yokkaichi City

High School Students’Global Environment School
Overview
Commissioned by Yokkaichi City, we held the Global Environment School for high school students. In FY 2019, theevent lasted eight days from July 29 to August 5, with the theme“Toward a Recycling-based Society – Consider the
Global Environment from the Perspective of Waste Problems”

Background and Purposes
Every summer vacation season, we invite high school
students from Yokkaichi City’s friendship city Tianjin, China,
and Yokkaichi City’s sister city Long Beach, the U.S., sothat they can receive a training program, exchange opinionswith high school students of Yokkaichi City regarding
environmental problems, and deepen mutual understanding.
By doing so, we strive to ensure that young people whowill play the major role in the next generation consider
the environment from a global viewpoint and invigorate
environmental conservation movements in all three cities. FY
2019 marked the 12th anniversary of the program.

Yokkaichi Nishi High School, and Kaisei High School).
The event enabled the high school students to learn about
environmental problems from one another and adopt a wide
variety of perspectives.
Another purpose of the Global Environment School is topromote global interaction through culture. Accordingly,
the program incorporated an experience of Japanese flower
arrangement in cooperation with the flower arrangement
club of Yokkaichi Commercial High School. While
experiencing an aspect of traditional Japanese culture, theprogram participants enjoyed interaction with high school
students.

Contents
Running about one week, this program included visits
to a wide variety of facilities and companies, including thefollowing:● Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Museum for
Future Awareness● Yokkaichi City Clean Center● Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Mie Plant● Kabuse-cha Cafe
● Yokkaichi Festival● Miyako Ecology Center (Kyoto City)

Courtesy visit to the Mayor of Yokkaichi and the Director of the
Yokkaichi City Assembly

In addition to the above, the participants also attended
a lecture from Professor Satoshi Chiba from the Facultyof Environmental and Information Sciences, Yokkaichi
University, to learn about the ocean plastic problem, which
is drawing much attention today, and engaged in fieldworkon the Yoshizaki coast, Yokkaichi. The actual observation ofocean plastic waste on the coast made them keenly realizethat it is a problem affecting everyone around the world.
To spread the effect of this program not only among the
program participants but also among high school students
of Yokkaichi City who did not participate in the program,
we held an event to interact with students from high schools
in Yokkaichi City. The event consisted of environmental
interaction programs prepared by students from threehigh schools in Yokkaichi City (Yokkaichi High School,2020 Vol.28

Fieldwork on the Yoshizaki Coast

At a presentation session, the program participants gave
presentations on the results of their one-week training
program. Divided into two mixed teams consisting ofstudents from the three cities, they presented what
they would do in the three cities to address the global
waste problem. Afterwards, Associate Professor Atsuko
Hanashima, the Faculty of Design Technology of Osaka
Sangyo University, commented on the presentations anddelivered her lecture“Waste Problems are Still at the Root ofEnvironmental Problems”allowing the high school students
and citizen audience to understand more about waste
problems.

Results and Outlook
Various contents of the program enabled the high school
students not only to obtain knowledge on waste problems but
also to present specific environmental conservation efforts
that they would make in their respective cities to accomplish
their targets. They thus showed significant growth.
We hope that the friendships forged through this year’sHigh School Students’Global Environment School will leadto continuous interaction among the high school students,
who will play the main roles in the future in their respective
cities. We look forward to seeing them serving as individuals
who will contribute to improving environmental problems in
Tianjin, Long Beach, and Yokkaichi in the near future and as
bridges of friendship among the three cities.
10

Information Dissemination
and Awareness-Raising
Independent Project

Environmental Seminars
Overview
We organize our facility tours and environmental seminars for schools and other organizations to introduce ouractivities and also to raise public awareness of environmental conservation.

FY 2019
Tour participants:

Komono UNESCO Association,
C ollaborat ive Resea rch
Organization for Future Regional
Society (Mie Satellite) of the
University of Tokyo, Institute for
Global Environmental Strategies(Kitakyushu Urban Center), etc.
Environmental Seminar: Yokkaichi University

We also participated in an environmental event
organized by Yokkaichi City.

ColumnIn FY 2019, a total of 17 persons visited us, while a
total of 51 persons joined our seminar.
We will continue
our activitiest o tel l p e ople ofvarious generations,f rom element a r yschool students touniversity students
and adults, aboutt he i mpor t a nceof environmenta lconservation.

Delegation to Vanuatu

The Republic of Vanuatu consists of 83 islands in the South Pacific Ocean in an area stretching about
1,200 km from north to south. I was sent to this country for eight days from February 22 to 29, 2020, as amember of a research unit to promote understanding under a JICA overseas cooperation project. I would
like to introduce what I learned about the country’s waste measures and favorite drink while I was there.

１．Waste Measures

The national government of Vanuatu is actively proceeding with plastic reduction measures. Since July
2018, regulations have been enforced to ban the distribution of plastic bags, straws, and trays for fooditems at supermarkets. Since December 2019, it has been prohibited to use seven types of plastic items,
such as forks and spoons.
On the other hand, waste to be transferred to final landfill sites is not separated properly, preventing
resources to be recycled.
With this background, Vanuatu is trying to introduce compost bins, which decompose kitchen garbage
through microorganisms and produce compost, and expand the use of them.
Moreover, the country is also trying to introduce a container deposit system*.
* In this system, if you purchase an item contained in a bin or PET bottle, you
pay a“deposit”to cover the cost for the bin or PET bottle at the time ofpurchase. If you later bring the container to a designated place, you will be
Final waste landfill site
reimbursed fully or partially for the deposit.

２．KavaThe word“kava”might remind many Japanese people of the word“kaba,”meaning
hippopotamus in Japanese, but it is a drink in Vanuatu. For this drink, a slight amountof water is added to juice squeezed from the ground roots of a Piper methysticum tree.
If you drink the brown liquid, which looks like muddy water, your tongue and throat
will sting, but it is said that kava has a sedation effect. Actually, people in Vanuatu love
Kava
this drink.
There are kava bars on the streets, and I hear that the tastes of the product differ depending on the bar.
The price of kava depends on its volume, although the lowest price of a cup of kava is equivalent to about
50 yen.
I sipped kava only slightly, but it took about a week for my stomach to return to its normal condition.
Kava is drunk also in Fiji, Tonga and some other countries in Oceania. If you have an opportunity to visit
any of these countries and have strong digestion, why not try the drink?
Hiroyuki Kondo, Planning Division, Global Environment Department

NEWS2020 Vol.28
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