On Tuesday, August 10, 2022, at 13.00, the SATREPS Area-BCM (DREAM) Project organized the 5^th Joint Coordinating Committee meeting (The 5^th JCC Meeting), which was the hybrid platform; both onsite and online. This JCC meeting aims to provide a platform for experts and collaborating government agencies to learn about and update the progress of the project activities as well as give suggestions for project improvement. Especially for this meeting, the project extension plan for a year was presented. Over 60 participants from researchers, JICA Thailand officers, and collaborative entities joined the meeting both onsite and online from Thailand and Japan.

First, Prof. Dr. Chakkaphan Sutthirat, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University, and Mr. Kawabe Ryoichi, the Senior Representative of JICA Thailand, had the opening speech, which remarks the importance of preparedness for natural hazards and counterstrategy for business continuity management. Additionally, both also emphasized the significance of the one-year project extension. As we learned from the unprecedented COVID-19 situation that becomes a huge obstacle for project implementation. However, the good efforts bring all together to continue the project working smoothly and archive the project goal of enhancing resilience.  

After Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kodaka Akira, the MC of this JCC Meeting, introduced all participants to both onsite and online platforms. Next, the presentation of the Extension of the Project Period was started by Professor Kenji Watanabe, the Principal Investigator of the project. Prof. Watanabe presented the background and overview of the proposal for the extension project period. Plan of Operation and Revised Schedule with a year extension for major tasks were presented to the member to clarify the roles and duties of project implementation. After the presentation, all members of the meeting have no objection to the Plan of Operation and the revised schedule for a one-year extension. Additionally, positive comments were given to the project by Prof. Dr. Vipan Prachuabmoh and Prof. Dr. Supot Techavorasinsakun, Directors of the Project.

Then, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kodaka introduced the audience to the presentation of the Progress Report, also the next steps in the extended period. As it is divided and sequenced into 4 main parts:

1. Development of Flood inundation model for the Industrial Parks presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Anurak Sriariyawat and Dr. Daiki Kakinuma from ICHARM

2. Community Research presented by Dr. Chutaporn Amrapala

3. Business Impact Analysis presented by Dr. Suzuki Shingo

4. Area-Business Community Management presented by Project Assoc. Prof. Kodaka Akira

Finally, Dr. Iwasaki Yuko presented the input summary to see the overall project implementation scenery. However, as all members meeting have no objection to the project activities presented, the meeting concluded part as mutual agreement from both the Thai and Japanese sides.

In conclusion, Prof. Dr. Vipan Prachuabmoh, Dean of the College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University as a Project Director gave the closing speech expressing gratitude to all participants from all-Item researchers and organizations. Prof. Dr. Vipan mentioned the unprecedented COVID-19 that exacerbates people’s living globally. Many project activities were halted due to domestic and international travel restrictions responding to the scheme by the authority. However, during a hard time, we learned good effort through continuous and successful progress from everyone. Prof. Dr. Vipan also emphasized the benefit of the extension project period, believing as it will help to enhance the project’s performance to be completely successful.

The SATREPS DREAM (Area-BCM) Project is a joint research project between Japan and Thailand under the SENDAI framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The project is schemed to launch a sustainable economic growth platform through disaster resilience enhancement at Industry complexes in Thailand and input to ISO/TC292 by the year 2023.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urxK7r_wgq8

For more information about this project, please visit https://area-bcm.info/ or https://www.facebook.com/areabcmthai