Taiwan, Japan drone makers sign MOU for supply chain cooperation

Taipei, March 25 (CNA) Taiwanese and Japanese drone makers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) supply chain, with the collaboration primarily focused on disaster relief efforts.

The Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance (TEDIBOA) and the Japan Drone Consortium (JDC), which have over 200 and 293 member companies, respectively, signed the pact in Taipei on Tuesday, witnessed by Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝), TEDIBOA said in a statement.

Wu Hsiu-hui (吳秀惠), chairwoman of Coretronic Corp., said that TEDIBOA has arranged a series of site visits for the Japanese delegation to showcase Taiwan's end-to-end research and manufacturing capabilities.

Wu also emphasized discussions on integrating the Taiwan-Japan supply chain to strengthen bilateral ties.

In response, JDC President Kenzo Nonami noted that the Japanese government has allocated a budget of over 100 billion yen (US$664.1 million) for drone development, describing the MOU as a significant turning point for Taiwan-Japan cooperation in the industry.

Nonami said Taiwan's manufacturing expertise and comprehensive supply chains for electronics and communications technology make it an ideal partner. He expressed hope that Taiwan will establish a presence in Japan, fostering complementary strengths in system integration and key technologies.

Pointing out that both Taiwan and Japan are prone to earthquakes, Nonami said he looks forward to the two sides supporting each other with drone technology in times of natural disasters.

In addition to disaster prevention and relief operations, the partnership will also focus on autonomous flight testing, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Kuo cited an international report projecting the global drone market will reach US$50 billion by 2030.

He expressed confidence that Taiwan and Japan will capitalize on this opportunity and set an example for industry cooperation through their partnership.