Epson and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed an agreement to help developing nations.
The Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement aims to assist developing nations solve societal issues and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
With its vision of “leading the world with trust,” JICA operates multiple projects. It aims to achieve human security and high quality development. JICA has networks and knowledge based on trust accumulated in developing nations.
Epson aims to provide people throughout the world with original technologies including in printing. It has a goal of “Co-creating sustainability and enriching communities to connect people, things, and information by leveraging our efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies”. Epson plans to undertake various initiatives to provide solutions that create connections worldwide.
Both JICA and Epson have connectivity at the heart of their respective visions. They will combe JICA’s networks in developing nations with Epson’s printing and projection technologies. As a result, they hope to accelerate solutions to issues in these nations and achieve collaboration and cooperation in the following areas.
Demonstration activities aimed at achieving SDG
They will leverage Epson’s printing and projection technologies in developing nations. This can improve the quality of education; improve the working environment; and reduce environmental burden.
Promoting innovation to solve issues in education
They will promote ICT education innovation and introduce digital technologies to connect an increasingly decentralised society. They aim to solve issues caused by a lack of educators, teaching materials and education infrastructure. Their first project involves using small battery-operated projectors to promote education, health, hygiene and the environment in regions off the electricity grid.
Human resource development
Epson will provide internship opportunities to long-term trainees accepted by JICA. The company’s employees will also provide ICT technical support to educational institutions in developing nations supported by JICA.
Promoting understanding of the SDG
They will host joint JICA-Epson conferences with exchanges between long-term JICA trainees and local society.
In 2020, Epson cooperated in the printing and binding of an original picture book on the SDG created by JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and donated it to children in Tonga. Starting with this activity, the two organisations began exchanges based around grassroots technology cooperation and information exchanges between JICA long-term trainees and Epson employees.
As a result of this comprehensive cooperation agreement, Epson and JICA hope to further expand their connections and accelerate and expand their support for developing nations.
