11th Conference
on Public Works Research and Development
in Asia

CONCLUSIONS

The 11th Conference on Public Works Research and Development in Asia convened with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from October 15 to 24, 2002. It opened in Tsukuba at the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, closing in Okinawa Prefecture.

Attendees included officials from government agencies responsible for implementing public works research and development policies.

Participating countries included India, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan.

The Subject of Common Interest for this conference was “ Water Resources and River Management for Sustainable Development. ”

Presentations and discussions based on country reports on the subject of common interest prepared by the participants of each country, achieved the common purpose of creating better understanding of the problems faced by each country and promoting mutual learning from the experiences of other countries.

The conclusions reached in the conference include:

  1. Water problems such as shortage of water resources, floods and sediment flows are serious concerns for Asian countries. Water Resources and River Management are core policy issues which should be considered by each and every country in Asia.
  2. Environmental issues are recognized to be at times, not simply those of a single country but of neighboring countries and the world.
  3. Urban planning programs and infrastructure enhancements are needed for the economic growth of developing countries in particular. It is crucial to apply both structural and non-structural approaches to mitigate environmental impacts of development. These should not be accompanied by excessive fiscal burdens for broad and follow-on applications.
  4. The participating countries will increase activities in research and development of those technologies in the field of public works, and actively promote technology transfer and mutual cooperation among themselves. The topography, natural environment and socio-economic conditions of each country should be duly considered in these undertakings.

The participants recognized the importance of the conference in furthering understanding of the roles of research in public works, and the need for further improvement. To further enhance and support the infrastructure development of each and every country, each country must seek to learn from the insights and experiences of all participating countries. The participants showed a shared recognition for the need to continue the conference series.



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