Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) has been adjudged a winner by the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP*1) for outstanding work in the category of Technological Development. In selecting DBJ for the award, ADFIAP cited the bank's investment in SkyDrive through the Society 5.0 Investment Program*2. The 2021 awards were presented at the ADFIAP General Meeting held virtually on the 27th and 28th of October, 2021.
The ADFIAP Awards recognize the work of development finance institutions with distinguished achievements in the Asia Pacific region. The aim of the awards is to publicize deals and projects which are both outstanding and instructive, as well as to share financial methods and techniques.
SkyDrive is a Japanese manufacturer in the field of eVTOL*3, also known as Advanced Air Mobility, and related vehicles. A start-up founded by engineers in the fields of aircraft, drones, and automobiles, it focuses on the development of compact and agile emission-free flying vehicles in the form of small, multicopter aircraft without fixed wings.
eVTOL aircraft hold much promise as a means of resolving traffic congestion, an increasingly serious social problem in urban areas around the world. In Japan, they can also play a key role in rural areas faced with depopulation and financial difficulties by helping to build a sustainable transport system, revitalize tourism and other local industries, and create safe, secure communities through improved disaster relief. SkyDrive vehicles are predicted to see increasing use not only in Japan but also in Southeast Asia and elsewhere overseas, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic transforms the way we think about personal mobility.
With eVTOL aircraft poised for expanded use throughout the world, this investment represents DBJ's support for their development in Japan. The project's contribution to the creation of new industry was highly evaluated and led to its receiving the ADFIAP award.
In line with its corporate philosophy of "Designing the Future with Financial Expertise," DBJ will continue to actively support its clients' efforts to develop markets for growth capital, revitalize local economies, and build competitiveness.
*1 ADFIAP
| Official name | Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific | |
| Establishment | October 1976 (Headquarters: Manila, Philippines) | |
| Member | 87 institutions in 36 countries and regions |
*2 Designed with the aim of resolving social issues in Japan and creating new industries with new values, this original investment program allows DBJ to participate in business projects by investing in activities that contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.
*3 electrical Vertical Take Off and Landing
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