Trade News

Canada’s tsunami reconstruction efforts: One year later

January 31, 2006

One year after an earthquake and tsunami devastated parts of South and Southeast Asia, Canadian companies continue to contribute to reconstruction efforts in the region— bringing expertise, creativity and innovative technologies.

Canadian companies have contributed 100 wood-frame homes to the Labui Eco-Village in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

One such company is Intermap Technologies Inc. of Alberta, which has created digital elevation models that will be used to rebuild drainage and rice paddies, as well as identify locations for proper shelter construction. Intermap recently received funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to expand its technology transfer to Indonesia. The funds are being used to train Indonesian GIS technicians to use radar data for the construction of topographic line maps.

“This is truly a great success for CIDA, the Canadian government and Canadian industry,” says David Hisdal, Intermap’s director for Southeast Asia and Australia. “We have created more than 75 high-tech jobs in Indonesia over the past 15 months. In addition, 50 to 100 positions with other Indonesian companies are also being created to take our data and turn it into topographic line maps.”

Another company actively involved in reconstruction efforts is Komex International Ltd., also based in Alberta. Acting on a lead from the Canadian Embassy in Indonesia, Komex won a six-month contract with UNICEF to manage a water supply rehabilitation project in the Indonesian province of Aceh, where more than 100,000 homes were destroyed in the disaster. The project aimed to build local capacity to replace and improve the water supply and delivery capabilities. Most of the water supply in Aceh was eliminated by the destruction of wells through massive saltwater intrusion and bacterial contamination. Komex managed the importation of well-drilling rigs and trained local crews to operate and maintain the equipment.

A major benefit of this project was the mapping of the local ground water chemistry to ensure that future drilling would find safe drinking water. This data will help UNICEF coordinate the water supply and sanitation activities in the reconstruction of Aceh.

Canada’s wood industry has also been looking at how it can contribute to reconstruction efforts. Ten wood-frame homes have been supplied by British Columbia's Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd., with the support of Forintek Vancouver, to demonstrate Canadian construction technology and the suitability of B.C. wood products to tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia. The homes, designed by B.C. firms Britco Structures, Winton Global, Simon & Co. and Chateau Building Products, are located in the Labui Eco-Village near Banda Aceh.

To complement this project, the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta, Forintek Vancouver and the British Columbia Institute of Technology hosted two seminars in late September to demonstrate that Canadian-style wood-frame construction is safe and durable.

Innovative Canadian housing technology is also being introduced in Sri Lanka through LGS Steelhouse Canada. LGS produces low-cost, high-quality pre-engineered houses made of lightweight concrete blocks and galvanized steel channels. The houses have received the approval of the Sri Lankan Urban Development Authority and, to date, 20 homes have been built to demonstrate suitability of design and construction to the development community in Sri Lanka. LGS and its Sri Lankan partner expect to contribute to the development community’s plan to build 30,000 homes during post-tsunami reconstruction efforts in Sri Lanka.

For more information, go to www.itcan-cican.gc.ca/tsunami/tsunami-response-en.asp. Canadian companies interested in supplying the reconstruction effort may wish to contact:
Francis Dorsemaine
International Financing Division
International Trade Canada
Email: francis.dorsemaine@international.gc.ca