Connecting the world with trust and technology
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, Epson) today signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement aimed at assisting developing nations solve societal issues and achieve the SDGs.
With its vision of "leading the world with trust," JICA operates multiple projects aimed at achieving human security and high quality development, and has networks and knowledge based on trust accumulated in developing nations.
Epson aims to provide surprise and delight to people throughout the world with original technologies including in printing and projection. As it seeks to achieve its 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 in the environment, co-creation and DX to provide solutions that create connections worldwide.
Both JICA and Epson have connectivity at the heart of their respective visions. By combining JICA's networks in developing nations with Epson's printing and projection technologies, the two organizations will aim to accelerate solutions to issues in these nations and achieve collaboration and cooperation in the following areas.
(1) Demonstration activities aimed at achieving the SDGs
By leveraging Epson's printing and projection technologies in developing nations supported by JICA, the two organizations will aim to 1. Improve the quality of education, 2. Improve the working environment, and 3. Reduce the environmental burden.
(2) Promoting innovation to contribute to solving issues in education
By promoting ICT education innovation and introducing digital technologies to connect an increasingly decentralized society, we aim to solve issues caused by a lack of educators, teaching materials and education infrastructure, and by deficiencies in education services. The first project we undertake will involve using small battery-operated projectors to effectively promote education, health, hygiene and the environment in regions off the electricity grid.
(3) Human Resource Development in Developing Nations
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.
(4) Promoting understanding of the SDGs in Nagano, Japan
We will promote understanding of the SDGs in Nagano, Japan, by holding joint JICA-Epson conferences and through 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 SDGs created by JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers living in Nagano Prefecture, and donated it to children in Tonga. Starting with this activity, the two organizations 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.
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