opinions on the water resources and sewerage sector at the Japan-Indonesia Vice-Minister Level Meeting on Construction held in November 2014.

In addition, the “Water and Environment Solution Hub,” a federation which includes Kitakyushu City, Osaka City, the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Yokohama City, Kobe City, Fukuoka City, Kawasaki City, Saitama Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, the Japan Sewage Works Agency and MLIT, is providing experience and expertise on sewerage projects through seminars, field studies, and training.

## (5) Disaster Prevention Sector

Efforts are underway to improve the disaster prevention functions of partner countries and contribute to the international development of infrastructure, utilizing Japan’s advanced technology and knowledge on disaster prevention, gained from past experiences with disasters.

In particular, emerging countries facing issues in disaster prevention are targeted for joint efforts through the working cooperation of the private sector, academia, and the public sector of both countries to pursue technology and solutions that satisfies both parties' needs through “Talks for Cooperation in Disaster Prevention.” The coordination of relevant organizations will capture a variety of opportunities in expanding to each individual country in relation to the “Infrastructure System Export Strategy”. As part of the “Talks for Cooperation in Disaster Prevention,” public and private sectors held workshops in Turkey in April and July 2014, in Indonesia in November 2014, in Vietnam in December 2014, and in Myanmar in February 2015.

In addition, the private sector, academia, and public sector worked together to establish the “Japan Disaster Prevention Platform” in June 2014 for the purpose of promoting the development and overseas sales of internationally competitive products and services in the disaster prevention sector. This organization serves as a receptacle for “Talks for Cooperation in Disaster Prevention” in cooperation with private sectors and works to make introductions and proposals of Japan’s technology to partner countries.

On the other hand, to reduce the occurrences of water disasters in the world, in addition to disseminating Japan’s experiences and technology, efforts are being made to establish international solidarity regarding the strengthening of water disaster prevention in order to build an international consensus that disaster prevention is the key to sustainable development. Meanwhile, the Public Works Research Institute’s (Independent Administrative Institution) International Center for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), which is recognized as a UNESCO cooperative organization, is developing projects such as the Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS), which uses satellite information and analysis technology like the Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation Model, and researching risk management in developing countries. The fruits of these efforts are used for human resource development efforts, including the awarding of doctorate and master’s degrees in water-related disaster risk management, as well as accepting trainees for short-term training in water-related disaster risk management. Furthermore, technical cooperation and international assistance is being implemented jointly with UNESCO and the Asian Development Bank, including the construction of a flood forecast and warning system and hosting workshops for Asian countries and regions vulnerable to water disasters.

In addition, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department and MLIT exchanged letters in March 2013 regarding disaster prevention cooperation, and based on these letters, held both ministerial-level and expert-level meetings in February 2015. The “3rd Japan-Switzerland Science & Technology Joint Committee” held in December 2014 included discussions on landslide disaster risk management, and confirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation in developing technology in this field. That same month, Japan also attended the “OECD High Level Risk Forum” and contributed to the discussions by introducing case examples of calculation of disaster prevention investment and disaster damage assessment. In addition, experts dispatched by the MLIT is providing technical advice on understanding disaster circumstances and future countermeasures.