ERA Joins Forces to Fight Covid-19

Europe's national rental associations have joined forces to tackle the corona virus crisis. The European Rental Association's (ERA) Committee of National Associations has been organising emergency virtual meetings, coordinated by Spanish rental association ASEAMAC. The meetings are intended to facilitate the exchange of information so that the associations are best able to help their members deal with the effects of the pandemic. The main topics covered are health and safety, equipment, insurance and transport.

EIB to Invest EUR 150 million

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will invest EUR 150m in the Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF) established by Association of Southeast Asian Nations` (ASEAN) to accelerate the development of green infrastructure projects and crowd-in much needed private investments in the sector. With the investment, the EU`s Climate Bank continues to support development of transport, energy and water schemes in South East Asia. In line with its role as the EU`s Climate bank and its focus on climate action in Asia, the EIB support for ACGF will also improve environmental sustainability and climate resilience of ASEAN member countries, jointly the seventh-largest economy in the world, and advance global climate action.

Luca Lazza roli, Director General of the EIB, said: “The EIB is ready to support ASEAN attract funding for green infrastructure as it is a true win-win partnership for South East Asia, the European Union and the whole world. Our cooperation will benefit the people and economies of the ASEAN, support local communities.

JICA to Provide 4.409 billion Yen for Metro Manila

Contributing to the reduction of the disaster risk in Metro Manila with Japanese technology, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a loan agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines in Manila to provide a Japanese ODA loan of up to 4.409 billion yen for Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project (II). The objective of the project is to strengthen the resilience of the transport network in Metro Manila by replacing and strengthening the Guadalupe and Lambingan bridges utilizing improved bridge seismic design specifications. This will contribute to a more secure and sustainable economic and social development of Metro Manila and to realizing speedy recovery in case of large-scale earthquakes in the National Capital Region. This project will contribute to the achievement of SDGs Goals 9,11. The Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) will apply to the Japanese ODA loan for the project, and it is expected that advanced Japanese technology, such as super-structure erection method and steel pipe sheet pile, will be utilized in the project.

27% of Construction Firms Report Layoffs

Covid-19 pandemic has triggered layoffs at more than a quarter of construction firms responding to an online survey released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The finding, based on responses from earlier this week, contrasts with the government's monthly employment report for March, which found that construction employment declined by 29,000 as of mid-March. “The March employment data does a better job reflecting market conditions before the pandemic than it does the widespread disruptions that have occurred during the past few weeks,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. He noted that the federal employment figures are based on payrolls as of March 12, when relatively few states or individual owners had directed contractors to stop work.

Hitachi to Set Up Lumada Data Science Lab

Promoting the growth of Lumada business by combining technologies and expertise in data applications, and by building a positive spiral of R&D and business, Hitachi will establish the "Lumada Data Science Lab. within the Kys-no-Mori facilities at the Central Research Laboratory. This new organization will promote collaborations by bringing together about 100 of the top data scientists - including researchers in the fields of AI and data analytics, and engineers and consultants with a deep knowledge of OT (Operational Technology), which is essential to the application of advanced data science and technologies in work processes - and leveraging their individual skills and expertise. At the Data Science Lab., these data scientists will use flexible ideas to match technologies with work processes and quickly conduct verification tests, to create new services and technologies that respond to even more complex and advanced customer needs.

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