The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed a cooperation agreement with Japanese drone manufacturer Aerosense Inc. to promote drone technology solutions across Africa.
The agreement, signed on 21 August on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama, formalises collaboration on sustainable infrastructure solutions, knowledge sharing, and potential co-financing of projects.
Aerosense’s drone solution was recently selected under the AfDB’s Sustainable Road Maintenance Program for Africa (SRMPA). The partnership will explore drone applications in road management, disaster response, flood control, agricultural monitoring, and medical deliveries.
AfDB Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Solomon Quaynor, said, “The program is a bold response to Africa’s growing infrastructure challenges. By partnering with Aerosense, we will not only promote efficient road management but also explore wider applications of drone technology.”
Aerosense President and CEO, Kohtaro Sabe, added, “It is a great honour to serve the people in Africa with our Japanese technology for enhancing their quality of life. We look forward to collaborating with AfDB to build a better future together.”