(Construction) - Opportunities for Japanese companies to participate in infrastructure projects in the United States are likely to expand.
 |
| Japanese Companies Look to Expand Business. |
The Biden administration announced in March its plan to invest about $2 trillion in infrastructure development over the next 10 years. At the 4th Japan-U.S. Infrastructure Forum held online by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in the same month, Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of infrastructure.
$621 billion out of the investment plan announced by the US will be allocated in the transportation sector. Of this amount, $115 billion will be used to repair roads and bridges. President Joe Biden emphasized the historical significance of the policy in a speech on March 31, saying "It's a once in a generation investment in America"
At the online infrastructure forum held in March, Minister Akaba stressed that Japanese companies have advanced technologies in areas such as maintenance and digital technology. He called on the US to "work together to solve problems."
Secretary Buttigieg praised Japan's efforts in decarbonization and development of smart cities, saying that they are in line with U.S. efforts to achieve its policy goals. "The forum will serve as a foundation for further partnership between the U.S. and Japan," he said.
A number of Japanese companies attended the forum and presented their unique technologies. NEXCO-West USA, a U.S. subsidiary of the West Nippon Expressway Company, presented its technology for efficient inspection of roads and bridges using cameras. An infrared camera is mounted on the vehicle to capture images of the road surface, and damage areas are extracted using proprietary image processing technology. In response to the U.S. plan to increase the infrastructure budget, a representative of the company said, "This is an opportunity for us to receive more orders and expand our business." (2021/05/12)
The Daily Engineering and Construction News of Japan
Theo
