VINACHEM

(VEN) - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) inVietnam and the HanoiUniversity of Technology recently signed a project on technical support in creating a carbon cycle system with natural rubber.

The project is to help Vietnam develop plans to change from synthetic rubber to natural rubber and reduce exhaust fumes, which cause green-house effect.

Japan will provide US$3.9 million for the project for development from 2011-2016.

Five research groups from the Nagaoka University of Technology in Japan, the Hanoi University of Technology and the Vietnam Rubber Research Institute in Vietnam will take part in the project.

Within the framework of the project, Japanese and Vietnamese experts will work on methods to evaluate natural rubber, extract natural rubber materials, make polymer materials, develop technology for treatment of waste water from the rubber industry, and produce biotechnological fuels from waste rubber trees.

Vietnam has rapidly increased rubber production in hopes of producing more products from natural rubber, which is recognized to be green, environmentally-friendly material and to contribute to sustainable development in Vietnam.