Japan mulls to boost medical exports to 5 Mekong countries

Japan is mulling to boost its medical-related exports to five Mekong-bound countries in Southeast Asia by setting up a task force involving public and private sectors later this week, according to local media on Monday. The task force aims at accelerating Japan's exports on its advanced medical technologies such as facilities and medical insurance system to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos, reported Japan's Kyodo News. The move is a part of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's growth strategy and the country plans to sign a memorandum of understanding on expanding medical cooperation with the Mekong countries in a summit commemorating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Tokyo next month, said the report, citing government officials. The trade boosting body will group Japanese officials from foreign and economy ministries and managers and representatives from hospitals and insurance companies, Kyodo quote the officials as saying. Japan has planned to establish a hospital providing emergency care in Cambodia in March 2015 and to help train doctors and other medical staff to Laos and to set up hospitals to Myanmar. The country is considering means to boost cooperation with Thailand and Vietnam, according to Kyodo.