Ambassador Hiramatsu participated in 2nd International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

On 19 March 2019, the 2nd International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (2nd IWDRI) was held at Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, organised by NDMA, the Government of India, in collaboration with United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

IWDRI is an international conference to share the latest knowledge and technologies, and to discuss challenges and potential ideas, in order to build disaster resilient infrastructure, and this is the 2nd meeting following the 1st meeting held in 2018. This time, the establishment of “Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure”, which has been advocated by Prime Minister Modi, was also discussed.

Japan is expected from the world to contribute to this sector, as it has been developing disaster resilient infrastructure on its disaster-prone land. Therefore, many Japanese experts from both public and private sectors participated in this Workshop.

Ambassador Hiramatsu made his address, as the only speaker among foreign governments invited to the opening ceremony, and deeply appreciates the recent initiative by the Government of India, on behalf of Japan, a highly disaster-prone country. Further, Ambassador Hiramatsu, mentioning that Japan, chairing G20 this year, is aiming to formulate principles of “Quality Infrastructure Investment” incorporating the factor of “Resilient Infrastructure”, reiterated that Japan would be willing to cooperate with this initiative by sharing our expertise and experiences; to participate in future discussions, including establishment of “Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure”; and to make contributions in every possible way. (Full text of Ambassador Hiramatsu’s address is here.)

In the opening ceremony of 2nd IWDRI, Ms. Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of Secretary General, UNISDR, a Japanese national, made her address.