Japan will share with Ukraine its experience in dealing with the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters. The Ministry of Communities, Territorial Development and Infrastructure of Ukraine has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Promotion of Sustainable Urban Recovery with the Japan Reconstruction Agency. Experts will provide each other with advisory and technical support in the restoration of affected communities and territories.
The Reconstruction Agency, established in February 2012, is the main body of the Japanese government responsible for the recovery process after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011. The earthquake caused a triple disaster – an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
“The experience of the Reconstruction Agency in restoring infrastructure after the Great East Japan Earthquake and returning normalcy to the affected areas is invaluable for us. Especially now, when the terrorist act of the Russian Federation to blow up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station led to one of the largest man-made disasters in Europe in recent decades,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.
He added that the successful experience of Japanese colleagues will help to avoid many mistakes in planning and implementing recovery projects in the affected areas, and thus Ukrainian specialists will be able to save time and do everything much faster and more efficiently.
Alexander Kubrakov thanked Hiromichi Watanabe, Minister of Recovery of Japan, and the entire team of the Reconstruction Agency for their support and willingness to start a practical exchange of experience.
According to Hiromichi Watanabe, Japan’s experience shows that before the full-scale restoration of the territories can begin, the key is to meet the basic needs of the population of the affected communities. In particular, it is about housing, restoring critical infrastructure (heat, water and electricity supply systems), and restoring economic activity in communities.
The parties agreed that the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Reconstruction Agency would intensify their experience exchange in this area in the near future. The exchange will take place through regular bilateral meetings, workshops and seminars.
The Agency was established directly under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to centrally manage reconstruction activities, coordinate all those involved and cooperate with local authorities.
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