Japan improves university infrastructure
Improvements to the access road at the National University of Laos are now about 30 percent complete.
The university’s Vice President, Associate Professor Dr Phetsamone Khounsavath, made the announcement yesterday when he received the project funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Lao-Japan Human Resource Cooperation Centre.
The funding was granted to improve access and upgrade the basic infrastructure of the university, especially the roadways.
Dr Phetsamone said the upgrade, which began in March and is due to finish by June, would make it easier for students to get to the university, especially during the wet season.
Lao-Japan Human Resource Cooperation Centre Chief Advisor, Mr Mikiharu Sato, said Japan regarded education as an important part of its assistance to Laos. This is the second time they have provided funding to develop the university’s road and pedestrian walkways.
“Human resource skills learnt at the university will contribute to the transition of the Lao economy to a market oriented one, and promote mutual understanding and friendly relations between the Lao and the Japanese people,” he said.
He said the Japanese government had strengthened its cooperation in the education field, not only by assisting in building new schools, but also by improving their basic infrastructure and teaching skills.
“On behalf of the centre and JICA, and especially the Japanese government, we are very happy to offer a better future to university students, and we hope that all staff will work together to maintain the road as well as possible,” he added.
The centre was established with the help of Japanese Grant Aid in May 2001 at Dongdok, the main campus of the National University of Laos in Vientiane, and is aimed at providing training in business management and the Japanese language.
The centre is jointly operated by Laos and Japan under the technical cooperation project of the government of Japan through JICA.
By PHAISYTHONG CHANDARA
April 10, 2008
Vientiane Times - Vientianetimes.org.la
