Japan's First Overseas Water Project Starts in Australia

The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and two Japanese companies, major trading company Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and JGC Corporation (JGC), a leading plant manufacturer, announced on May 11, 2010, that they and Manila Water Company Inc. (MWC) have agreed to acquire United Utilities Australia Pty Limited and related entities (UUA). The UUA is the second largest water industry operator in Australia. With the participation of the INCJ, this is the first water project involving a Japanese public private consortium outside of Japan.

The INCJ, a public-private partnership, jointly funded by the Japanese government and 19 private corporations, was launched in July 2009. The partnership aims to promote the creation of next-generation businesses through aggressive investment activities.

The UUA supplies water to over three million people in four Australian states, through 14 projects, including the treatment of tap water, sewage, and industrial wastewater, desalination of seawater, and use of recycled water. The INCJ, MC, JGC, and MWC will establish a new company to undertake the UUA's projects and expand its business by using water engineering technologies and the know-how of the Bureau of Waterworks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The INCJ concluded a cooperation agreement with the Bureau of Waterworks on March 8, 2010, aimed at sharing information to use the advanced water engineering technologies and operational know-how of Tokyo Waterworks Service Co., which is administered by the Bureau of Waterworks with its 51 percent investment. The INCJ also signed the tripartite memorandum between them.

Tokyo Contributes to World Business with Water-Supply Technology & Know-How (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030127.html

Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) official website
http://www.incj.co.jp/english/
Private Public Consortium Acquires Australian Water Company
http://www.incj.co.jp/PDF/e_20100511-1.pdf

Posted: 2010/08/28 06:00:15 AM