Activities（FY2025）

Since April 2023, the Yokohama Waterworks Bureau (YWWB) has been implementing the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Partnership Program, “The Project for Capacity Development of Perumda Tirtanadi * for 24 Hours Safe Water Supply," over a three-year period. Through this program, YWWB’s staff have been dispatched to Perumda Tirtanadi to provide technical guidance and recommendations for improvement in the areas of water distribution management and water treatment. The project also aims to strengthen Perumda Tirtanadi's capacity to operate its water supply business by introducing technologies from Yokohama Water Business Association (YWBA) members.
In FY2025, the YWWB continued its activities by dispatching staff to the region and provided members of the YWBA collaborating in this program with opportunities to visit project sites and showcase their technologies and products to Perumda Tirtanadi. Furthermore, the program facilitated participation in the "INDO WATER Expo & Forum" in Jakarta through a joint exhibition booth and arranged visits by representatives of Perumda Tirtanadi to local offices of YWBA members. As the program neared its completion in April 2026, YWBA members were provided with opportunities for company PR at the closing seminar held in Medan.

*Perumda Tirtanadi Regional Public Water Utility owned by the Government of North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

During a JICA training program in Japan, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) of Uganda expressed interest in meeting with Japanese companies to learn about water supply technologies. In response, two members of the YWBA met with NWSC representatives and introduced their technologies and products.

In conjunction with the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) which was held in Yokohama, YWWB and JICA hosted a business seminar aimed at helping YWBA members explore and expand business opportunities in Africa’s water sector.
The seminar featured presentations from the YWWB and JICA on their work in Africa, as well as case studies from the Japanese company with firsthand experience in African markets and the local company that has collaborated with the Japanese partner. Participants also gained insights into the evolving relationship between Africa and Japan through an expert overview of current trends and business opportunities.

Business Seminar with JICA

Representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) delivered presentations on their respective support programs for overseas business development.
In addition, member companies and the City of Yokohama shared insights into local needs and business opportunities in the Philippines and Vietnam, followed by discussions among participating member companies.
A total of 28 participants from 20 companies attended the seminar.

A Scene from the Seminar

The City of Yokohama and Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) maintain an ongoing technical exchange through the Global Technology Exchange (GTX), an international network established to promote collaboration and the sharing of information and expertise related to large-diameter sewer pipelines, among other topics.
In FY2025, PUB officials visited Yokohama and participated in a workshop focusing on flood and inundation management measures. The program included meetings in the morning, followed by site visits to the Hokubu Wastewater Treatment Plant in the afternoon. The delegation also visited member companies in Yokohama, where they received presentations on technologies and solutions developed by local businesses.

The City of Yokohama and the City of Hanoi, Vietnam, which have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and friendship, have collaborated in the sewerage sector for more than a decade through a JICA Partnership Program (Special Framework for Regional Economic Revitalization).
Building on this partnership, a joint venture (JV) formed by two member companies of the Yokohama Water Business Association secured the contract to construct the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant commissioned by the City of Hanoi. The completion ceremony was held on August 19, 2025.
The Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant is a large-scale facility with a treatment capacity of 270,000 cubic meters per day. The commencement of its operation has nearly doubled the wastewater treatment coverage in Hanoi’s urban districts, substantially improving local water quality and the urban environment.

Since the late 1990s, the YWWB and water utilities in Vietnam have built strong partnerships and long-standing relationships of trust through JICA Partnership Program and Technical Cooperation Projects. YWWB and three Vietnamese organizations: HueWACO in Hue City, SAWACO in Ho Chi Minh City, and CNEE (the Training Center for Water and Environment) in Hue City, are currently working under a three-year memorandum of understanding that began in FY2024. In FY2025, a seminar was held under this framework on the theme of “Automated Smart Operation of Water Supply Systems.” Representatives of the four organizations delivered presentations on their respective initiatives and experiences in the field.
The seminar also provided an opportunity for three members of the YWBA to showcase their products and technologies to Vietnamese water utilities.
The seminar was held in conjunction with “Vietnam Water Week 2025.” The joint exhibition booth of Yokohama and the three aforementioned YWBA members attracted a large number of visitors, demonstrating strong interest among Vietnamese stakeholders in Japanese water technologies and services and leading to a new business contract for participating members.

On October 9, a delegation of 12 members from the North San Diego Business Chamber visited Yokohama from San Diego, one of Yokohama’s sister cities, and toured the Hokubu Sludge Treatment Plant.
The visit provided an opportunity to showcase Yokohama’s advanced circular economy technologies and their contribution to the city’s Zero Carbon City initiative.

Site Visit

The City of Yokohama jointly exhibited with three member companies at VIETWATER 2025, Vietnam’s largest exhibition dedicated to the water sector, and delivered presentations during the technical seminar program.
The exhibition and seminar provided opportunities to showcase both Yokohama’s expertise in water and wastewater management and the innovative technologies and services of YWBA member companies.

Since the launch of the program in conjunction with the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), held in Yokohama in May 2008, YWWB has welcomed participants from across Africa each year. As of FY2025, a total of 170 water utility engineers and managers from 33 African countries have taken part in the program.
The FY2025 program was conducted from October to November and included presentations by three YWBA members, as well as site visits to two members, providing participants with opportunities to learn about their technologies, services, and business activities.

A courtesy visit was paid to the Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, with whom discussions are ongoing regarding future technical cooperation.
During the meeting, the Vice Chairman outlined local challenges, including flood management and the operation and maintenance of sewerage infrastructure. He also expressed his hopes for deeper cooperation between Yokohama and Dong Thap Province and for the development of future collaborative projects.

A YWBA member delivered a presentation to participants in a technical tour organized as part of the "Asia Smart City Conference 2025" held in Yokohama.

Representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) delivered presentations on their respective support programs.
In addition, member companies and the City of Yokohama introduced local needs and business opportunities in the Philippines and Vietnam, followed by discussions among participating member companies.
A total of 30 participants from 18 companies attended the seminar.

Seminar Session

The Sewerage and Rivers Bureau of the City of Yokohama is working with JICA to support the development of a sewerage master plan for the Metro Cebu area. The initiative aims to promote the phased expansion of sewerage infrastructure through close coordination with local stakeholders, with detailed studies currently underway to advance both planning and implementation.
On March 24, 2026, the Second Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) Meeting was held in Cebu City. Participants included representatives from JICA, the Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu, the eight local government units comprising Metro Cebu, the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), and other related organizations.
During the meeting, participants shared updates on project progress and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation among all stakeholders to facilitate future project implementation.
The meeting also confirmed the designation of Green Learning Park in Mandaue City as the site for a pre-feasibility study (Pre-FS). In addition, local partners expressed their desire to further strengthen collaboration with Japan, including JICA and the City of Yokohama, in support of sustainable sewerage development across the region.