Development assistance: Japan

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Description: "CATFISH TALES is a newsletter sent every other week. It includes information about Japanese ODA policy and social and environmental problems related to development projects in the Mekong Region (Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Yunnan Province of China). It also contains news from the Japanese language media summarized in English and information on multilateral development banks in which Japan has influence. As the largest bilateral donor for all countries in the Mekong Region, the Japanese government?s role in development in the region is significant. For people who are interested in information about Japan?s policies from a critical perspective, this newsletter will be useful..." Archives of "Catfish Tales" from May 2002 and subscription information on site.... Note:"Mekong Watch is no longer issuing Cathfish Tales."
Source/publisher: Mekong Watch
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-01
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: Diplomatic Relations, Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Myanmar, Number of Myanmar Nationals residing in Japan, Trade with Japan (1998) Direct Investment from Japan, Japan?s Economic Cooperation, List of Grant Aid - Exchange of Notes in Fiscal Year 2002, VIP Visits. Statements by Japanese officials, Press Secretary?s Press Conference on Myanmar
Source/publisher: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: "Mekong Watch is the Japanese NGO established in1993 to monitor and research social and environmental impacts of the Japanese development initiatives in the Mekong region, and to advocate more sustanable and people-centered ways..." It appears to be a consortium of NGOs, largely Japanese, which aims "...to create channels for local people in the Mekong region to participate in each decision-making process of development initiatives affecting their livelihoods, cultures and ecosystems. We will foster a deeper understanding of them and their impacts, and support local people for benefiting their own development paths based on their local resources and rules. Strategies 1.Information gathering and analysis on problematic development plans. 2.Understanding social and environmental situation in Mekong River Region. 3.Feedback of relevant information both to Mekong region and Japan. 4.Developing ideas on information disclosure, participation and civil society. Critical, in particular, of Japanese-funded dams.
1993-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: Introduction: "Myanmar has been receiving international business attentions since 201 1. Strong growth potential and expectation for the transformation of the Myanmar?s political situation and foreign relations are attracting large foreign direct investment (FDI) from Japan as well as many developed countries. Industrialization is an import ant issue for developing countries for economic development. Myanmar urgently requires industrial competitiveness by catching up with technological capability. Human resource development plays a crucial role in building skills and technological capability, and for realizing a nation?s industrial competitiveness. Myanmar as the latest comer in ASEAN for industrialization, investing in broad human capital development is fundamental to develop into a modern industrial economy. Developing countries can maximum utilize the late comers? advantages during the process of industrialization. This paper aims to analyse the current human resource development in manufacturing industry and strategies of Japanese government and industries in investments for it. This paper tries to analyse the case of Japanese technology transfer in manufacturing industry. Especially, it focuses on the implementation process of the effective production system from Japan to Myanmar. Each country has each development process. When Japan started initial phase of industrialization, Japan tried several strategies to catch up developed countries. The Japanese development path and the Japanese human resource development strategies over yeas are studied for leaning evolutionary process over years. For this, this paper focuses on the innovative aspect of Japanese human resource development practices and its transfer to Myanmar.".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.
Creator/author: Yuri Sadio, Than Than Aung
Source/publisher: International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-09-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 461.02 KB
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Description: "MYANMAR is unlikely to be greatly affected by the Tokyo government�s decision to cut overseas development aid by 10 per cent for the fiscal year beginning next April, a Japanese diplomat said last week..."
Creator/author: Myo Lwin
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times", Vol. 5, No.88, November 5 - 11, 2001.
2001-11-11
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : htm
Size: 722 bytes
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Description: "Demystifying Japan?s resumption of aid to Burma.... Following Depayin, Japan claimed to have suspended ODA to Burma, in response to the bloodbath and subsequent detention of NLD general-secretary Aung San Suu Kyi (who was lucky to escape Depayin alive). Given that Japan has long pursued an engagement policy with Burma, and has been the largest provider of economic aid to the country, a suspension of ODA would presumably have carried a certain weight with Rangoon. Some news articles even speculated that Japan had finally shifted to a tougher policy on Burma similar to that of the United States and the UK. Not so fast! A year and a half later, with Aung San Suu Kyi still under house arrest, regime hardliners firmly in control and the overall dismal political situation in Rangoon unchanged, Tokyo has resumed ODA to Burma. Most notably, in June this year Japan gave the regime human resource development scholarships to the value of about US $4.86 million (532 million yen) and in July a grant of about $3.15 million for an afforestation project in Burma?s central dry zone. In addition, Tokyo has provided nearly 30 smaller ODA grants to non-governmental organizations for various operations in Burma..."
Creator/author: Yuki Akimoto
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 12, No. 9
2004-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2004-11-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "There was a flurry of articles last week about how Japan plans to suspend, or in fact suspended, economic aid (ODA: Official Development Assistance, which is comprised mainly of yen loans, grants and technical assistance) to Burma, thereby stepping up the pressure on the military junta to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Most news reports say that the aid that is being frozen is further, or new, ODA. Given that Japan has long pursued an engagement policy with Burma, and is the largest provider of economic aid to Burma (2.1 billion yen of grants-in-aid was provided in fiscal year 2002), a suspension would carry a certain weight with the military regime. ...Japan?s engagement policy with Burma has always been based on a �gcarrot and stick�h approach, which traditionally has involved far more "carrots" than �gstick.�h Notwithstanding the uncertainties surrounding the suspension of new ODA, Japan?s freeze is a rare, and probably short-term, application of a �gstick.�h The Japanese government�fs preference has been, and will continue to be, for �gcarrots,�h a posture that is due in part to apparent concern about China replacing Japan as a likely source of economic assistance to, and political influence on, Burma. In this context, therefore, it is essential that governments and non-governmental groups monitor Japan?s Burma policy -- and be wary of overly optimistic or inaccurate news accounts concerning that policy. There is little doubt that, without pressure from other countries (notably the U.S.) and interested citizens, even a decision to suspend new ODA would likely have been much slower in coming. Such pressure must continue."
Creator/author: Yuki Akimoto
Source/publisher: Burma Information Network - Japan
2003-06-28
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : htm
Size: 17.51 KB
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Description: Chapter 1: ODA and Foreign Investment p7; Chapter 2: Japanese Policy Towards Myanmar p14; Chapter 3: Baluchaung Hydropower Plant No 2 p19; Chapter 4: Tasang Dam and Yadana Gas Pipeline p22; Chapter 5: The UNOCAL Case p26; Chapter 6: Panel Discussion p30; Chapter 7: Development in Other Countries 40; Chapter 8: Reviewing Development p43; References: p45. "...One objective of the symposium was to examine how development has affected people and the environment in Burma. Another objective was to examine the roles of the Japanese government, of private companies, and of individuals in development in Burma. Each speaker had his or her own ideas about what is best for Burma. Does Burma need development? If so, what kind of development does it need? For development, is it necessary for other countries to give Official Development Assistance (ODA)? Should ODA be given under the current military regime? Should companies invest in Burma now? Do ODA and investment help the people of Burma? ..."
Creator/author: (Speakers): Ms. Taeko Takahashi, Mr. Teddy Buri, Ms. Hsao Tai, Ms. Yuki Akimoto, Mr. Nobuhiko Suto, Mr. Shigeru Nakajima
Source/publisher: Mekong Watch, Japan
2001-12-15
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Officials in Japan, historically Burma?s largest creditor, have been left shaking their heads over the SPDC?s latest efforts to tap into the wealth of Asia?s richest nation.
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 2 (Business section)
2000-02-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "The surest sign that the talks between Burma�s ruling junta and the democratic opposition were in serious trouble came in early April, when Japan�s then-Foreign Minister Yohei Kono announced that his country was ready to "reward" the regime to the tune of $28 million for repairs to a hydroelectric power station in Karenni State..."
Creator/author: Editorial
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 9, No. 4
2001-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Cabinet Decisions June 30, 1992. "In order to garner broader support for Japan?s Official Development Assistance (ODA) through better understanding both at home and abroad and to implement it more effectively and efficiently, the government of Japan has established the following Charter for its ODA: ..."
Source/publisher: Government of Japan
1992-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: The news of the Japanese Government?s aid of ?3.5 billion (US $28 million) for the Lawpita hydropower plant renovation in Kayah (Karenni) State in Burma was very surprising news for Burmese democracy groups and the international community. The current situation of Burma?s political crisis is really critical and confusing. On one side is the powerful military junta, which never cares about violations of rights. On the other are the democracy groups and their international circle of sympathizers. Where the Japanese Government stands is not so clear. Those who can?t refuse to help others are noble; but is giving a gun to a bloodthirsty killer really helping?
Creator/author: U Sein
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Commentary)
2001-08-23
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "Japan?s response to the political crisis in Burma after the establishment of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) in September 1988 reflected the interests of powerful constituencies within the Japanese political system, especially business interests, to which were added other constituencies such as domestic supporters of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?s struggle for democracy and those who wished to pursue ?Sun Diplomacy,? using positive incentives to encourage democratization and economic reform. Policymakers in Tokyo, however, approached the Burma crisis seeking to take minimal risks--a "maximin strategy"--which limited their effectiveness in influencing the junta. This was evident in the February 1989 "normalization" of Tokyo?s ties with SLORC. During 1989-1998, Japanese business leaders pushed hard to promote economic engagement, but "Sun Diplomacy" made little progress in the face of the junta?s increasing repression of the democratic opposition." Online publication with kind permission of the author and the Journal of Burma Studies
Creator/author: Donald M. Seekins
Source/publisher: Journal of Burma Studies, Vol. 4 (1999)
1999-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Current updates of hydroelectric power projects on the Salween River. Mainly based on wire reports in English.
Creator/author: Yuki Akimoto
Source/publisher: BurmaInfo
2002-12-23
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Japanese
Format : php
Size: 201 bytes
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