Tokyo, 19 mar (EFE).-Japan will propose to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) the creation of an information network based on small satellites and geared to the prevention of natural disasters, today reported the economic newspaper Nikkei.
Satellites would be developed with Japanese technology and its sale to the countries of the region could be financed in part by Japanese funds for development aid, according to the evening edition of the newspaper, citing unidentified Japanese Government sources.
The funding required for this network is already included in the games of one of the extraordinary approved budgets this fiscal year, which ends next March 31, adds the newspaper.
The Japanese Government believes that a system of satellites from different countries of Southeast Asia would collect and share information that would facilitate the protection natural as typhoons, frequent in the region, and tsunamis disaster.
In this context, Japan intends to develop a simulation program to assess any damage caused by natural disasters, which would advise countries based of the ASEAN on the satellite operations.
While a regular satellite weighing between 2,000 and 3,000 kilos and its development costs around 30 billion yen (273 million euros), designed by Japan small satellites weigh about 500 kg and its cost would be three or four times less.
To facilitate procurement, government study grant credits to low interest rate through the Japan Bank for international co-operation entity with public capital, details Nikkei.
Exports of satellites and space technology represents one of the main sections in the growth strategy of Japan, third world economy, which seeks to promote sales in this sector to the developing countries of Asia and Africa. EFE
