People take a commemorative photo in front of a refrigerated container installed by Kivu Cold Group, in Rwanda, in December 2021. (Photo courtesy of the company)

Kobe- A Japanese logistic firm has teamed up with locals in Rwanda to jointly install a solar-powered refrigerated container in the African country right on the equator that has faced challenges in the management of agricultural goods due to insufficient infrastructure for cold storage and distribution.

The company was established by president Daigo Goto in November 2018. He was the successor to a logistics firm whose main customers were electric power-related companies and major electrical equipment manufacturers, but became independent to work on a new business. In contrast to the conventional cold chain method centered on large-scale refrigerators and freezers in urban areas, the firm is building a system for farmers to set up their own facilities and deliver produce and other food items directly from the production area to the market and retail stores.

In addition to refrigerated containers that comply with building certification and sanitation control standards, Cold Storage Japan has jointly developed high-performance ice packs and other products with multiple firms. These items have been adopted by game companies and fish processing industries.

The seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development held in 2019, attended by Japan and all African countries, became an opportunity for Cold Storage Japan to expand its business in Africa. Alex Ntale, CEO of the Rwanda ICT Chamber, happened to come across the company’s booth. In Rwanda, 30-40% of agricultural goods are lost to disposal at the production stage and after harvesting. One of the reasons for this is that refrigerated and frozen warehouses and trucks are not widespread due to the lack of an electrical grid.