The Japanese Government has decided to pick nine key projects in Southeast Asia, including five in Viet Nam , to promote infrastructure export under a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative, a local media reported.

These projects, which will have an estimated combined cost of roughly 900 billion JPY (about 1.16 billion USD), include an international airport, a coal-fired power plant, an industrial park and urban development in Vietnam; work related to water supply systems in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia; a highway in the Philippines; and a waste-processing facility in Indonesia, the Nikkei daily reported, adding that the Japanese Government plans to begin detailed feasibility studies in October this year.

According to the Nikkei, the Japanese Government aims to boost Japan 's infrastructure-related exports through public-private partnerships, as suggested by the Japan Business Federation, better known as Nippon Keidanren. To provide the necessary funds for building roads and other social infrastructure, which often require large long-term investments, it is considering tapping its official development assistance programme. In addition, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) may offer financial support.

The Japanese Government also aims to resume overseas investment and loans by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and seeks to help water departments at Japanese municipalities develop overseas water businesses.

In June, the Japanese cabinet adopted a goal of nurturing infrastructure-related export through public-private partnerships into a market worth 19.7 trillion JPY by 2020 as part of its new economic growth strategies, the Nikkei said./.