JICA to help Marina boost Philippines shipbuilding

JICA to help Marina boost Philippines shipbuilding
13 August 2018 http://www.seatrade-maritime.com/news/asia/marina-to-get-help-from-jica-...

The Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has strengthened its collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to boost the shipbuilding and ship repair industry in the country, according to local media reports.

Marina administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero said JICA will with Marina and extend technical assistance and expertise to help develop the sector.
“JICA’s aid will greatly help us in promoting and developing our shipbuilding industry. We’re hoping to further improve this relationship for the interest of Japan and Philippine maritime industry,” Guerrero said.
JICA senior representative Tetsuya Yamada assured that the multilateral agency would continue to extend technical assistance and expertise to Marina in developing standard design for locally made ships, in establishing the Philippines’ first-ever maritime industry hub, and in setting up a financing facility for local shipbuilders and ship owners.
Furthermore, JICA expressed support for the implementation of Marina’s 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan which serves as the blueprint in making the local shipbuilding and ship repair industry globally-competitive and technologically-responsive.

Another critical element is JICA will also provide Japanese experts to help Marina to work out a plan for assessing the retirement criteria of aging domestic ships.
The Philippines has one of the world's worst domestic maritime records and Marina has often been criticised for its inadequacies.