Taking stock of Japan and Rwanda’s collaboration for universal connectivity and digital transformation through space

Japan is grateful for joining its celebrations in Rwanda as it holds a great significance and serves as a reminder to consolidate gains achieved together.

In view of the spirit of the day, the joint efforts between the Government of Rwanda and the Government of Japan have gone to avail information which will give positive impact on public life through space collaboration.

Corresponding to emergency request from Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is supporting RSA for their emergency analysis task for the recent flood’s disaster on 2nd and 3rd May 2023.

JAXA has provided the satellite observation results of flooding around the concerned area from Advanced Land Observation Satellite (2ALOS-2) through The International Charter Space and Major Disasters. RSA’s access to this data in the charter is helping to grasp the fully extent of the disaster damage.

Rwanda and Japan have had a variety of collaboration recent years. In 2019, Rwanda and Japan teamed up to build the first cube satellite (RWASAT-1), which was launched from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center and deployed to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from the International Space Station. From 2019 to 2021, JICA has also contributed to the RSA’s undertaking of drafting the space strategy.

Last April, a delegation led by Col. Francis Ngabo, Chief Executive Officer of RSA visited Japan to discuss about further collaboration with the Government of Japan, JAXA, JICA as well as Japanese Private Companies. Through JICA’s technical cooperation, some officials from RSA are doing master’s courses in different Japanese Universities and attending Training Programs jointly organized by JAXA and JICA.

This year, JICA plans to create new special training programs in Japan, to encourage more satellite technology utilization in public and private activities.

Japan hopes for the steady strengthened collaborations with Rwanda in space and satellite technology, contributing to the wellbeing and prosperity of both nations’ people.