Japan to help ASEAN cope with aging

The project aims to utilise Japan’s experience in handling the growing trend of the population aging (Source:Internet)

 The Japanese government will launch a public-private consultation system with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the next fiscal year to help member nations cope with their aging populations.

The government plans 15 million JPY (125,000 USD) for the project in budget requests for the next fiscal year.

The project aims to utilise Japan’s experience in handling the growing trend of the population aging in ASEAN nations.

It is also expected to allow Japanese companies involved in medical and nursing care services to more easily enter ASEAN markets, which are forecast to face rapid population aging and have a high demand on made-in-Japan medical products and equipment in the future.

Government officials and experts from Japan as well as ASEAN nations are expected to join the consultation mechanism to discuss issues related to nursing care services in each country.

The first round of consultation talk is being planned for ASSEAN and the Japanese government is considering holding such talks on a regular basis.

ASEAN countries are expected to age at a faster pace than Japan.

According to the United Nations, Japan took 25 years for its population of individuals 65 or older to double from 7 percent to 14 percent as of 1995. Vietnam is expected to see the same shift in only 15 years, by 2033, and Indonesia is expected to see it in 17 years, by 2038.-VNA