
Tokyo (VNA) – The Japanese governmentwill provide financial assistance for 23 tech-related cooperation projectsbetween the country and Southeast Asian companies, the Yomiuri Shimbun of Japanreported on October 13.
Accordingly, the projects aim to address challenges such as agriculturalproductivity and medical quality faced by countries in Southeast Asia byutilizing the private sector.
The Yomiuri Shimbun said the Japanese government will announce the plan before PrimeMinister Yoshihide Suga visits Vietnam and Indonesia in his first diplomatictrip from October 18-21.
As planned, Japan will provide a total of 500 million JPY (nearly 4.75 millionUSD) for the 23 projects in nine ASEAN member states.
Among the projects, Sojitz Corp. will provide pig farmers in Vietnam with anIT-based production management system. They can adjust the amount of feed andmanage health conditions by analyzing the movement of pigs with a camera toimprove product quality.
In Cambodia, Toyota Tsusho Corp. will team up with Grab, a company thatoperates car-hailing services throughout Southeast Asia, offering servicescombining sightseeing and various modes of transportation, including buses andtaxis.
In Thailand, Hitachi Co., Ltd will use artificial intelligence to analyzemedical data at major local hospitals to improve medical services, such aspersonalized treatment and medication.
Meanwhile, Japanese and Indonesian auto parts makers will work together toenhance production efficiency.
Previously, Japan and ASEAN agreed to work together on putting digital servicesinto practical use in order to enhance the sustainability of economicactivities in the face of the spread of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The assistance is hoped to help Japanese companies expand into new businessesin Southeast Asia and stimulate the creation of more digital services in Japanat the same time./.