Japanese SMEs offer new technology to help PH

Ten Japanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) offered to help the Philippines address various development challenges using new technology and ideas.

These firms took part in the recent SME Pitch and Marketplace activity, where they pitched their products and services to address socioeconomic problems.

BEMAC Electric Transportation Philippines Incorporated introduced electric tricycles using Japanese Power Control Unit technology that can help maintain various components of the electric vehicles and reduce pollutants by half.

Biotech Japan, a research and development company, is offering protein-reduced rice using a fermentation technology from lactic acid bacteria, to help people with chronic kidney diseases.

E-supportlink, Ltd., meanwhile, pitched for a stock-selling management software to help farmers control prices of vegetables and make the most of their harvest.

Another company, eTrust, is introducing sensor networks and cloud technology to help distribute irrigation water.

Guun, a Japanese waste management firm, introduced a solid waste management mechanism that turns plastic wastes into alternative energy sources like fluff fuel, often used in cement companies.

A Yokohama-based SME Hinode Microbubbler System, on the other hand, is pitching for a microbubbler system for waste water treatment that cities or municipalities could use to treat waste water.

Inada, Inc. introduced its portable water system that can filter E. coli and other bacteria and make clean water accessible to remote or disaster prone areas.

Japanese SME Informatix Inc. pitched its custom geographic information system and mapping technology that LGUs can use in times of disasters particularly evacuation routes and disaster response.

Iseki Polytech, Inc. introduced its microtunneling technology that can help install pipelines in congested cities.

And Japanese firm Kuwanosato pitched for its mulberry tea product that can help the immune system and improve health condition.

The pitch event, spearheaded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), aimed to get feedback from Filipinos to identify suitable innovations to development problems.

“This activity is an opportunity to see Japanese innovations and how they can be applied to Philippine situation. It’s one way the Philippines can take advantage of applicable technology solutions by becoming distributors or investors. It’s also a welcome move that Jica is tapping Japanese SMEs to sustain its development assistance to the Philippines,” said Dr. Ma. Carmen Lagman, professor at De La Salle University and one of the panelists in the pitch event.

INADA distributor in the Philippines Alan Nuega, who helped pilot test the portable water system in Sagay, Negros Occidental, affected by Typhoon Yolanda, shared that the municipality used INADA’s portable water system and benefited nearly 500 families.

“We hope that other LGUs could also explore using this technology particularly those that are prone to disasters. In Sagay, our feedback on this technology was quite positive with residents able to access safe water at very cheap price, about P15 for every 20 liters versus P40 for every 20 liters sold by commercial suppliers,” said Nuega.

The first of its kind held in Jica overseas offices, the SME Pitch Event and Marketplace is part of the Jica Partnership with Private Sector development assistance program where Japanese companies share their technology expertise with partner countries.

In the Philippines, there are 49 SME projects under this scheme mostly supporting agriculture, environment and waste management sectors.