What is TUMIQUI’s Vision and Mission?
Bringing Electricity and Telecommunications to Africa
SUCRECUBE Japon has drawn on our extensive experience in ICT infrastructure in French-speaking regions and our background in international business to officially launch the TUMIQUI Project in Senegal, Africa in 2018.
TUMIQUI is more than just an infrastructure initiative — it’s a collaborative social infrastructure project with a mission to support lives and futures through access to electricity and connectivity.
The TUMIQUI Project is not simply about installing infrastructure — it is a collaborative social infrastructure initiative driven by a clear vision and mission: to support lives and futures through access to electricity and connectivity.
In Senegal, we have steadily expanded our efforts on the ground — bringing light to unelectrified clinics, delivering connectivity to rural schools, and building a scalable infrastructure model that extends into agriculture, finance, and logistics.
On this page, we will walk you through our journey in Africa — why we chose to take on this challenge, what realities we have witnessed, the philosophy that guides us, and the future we envision — all structured across 11 chapters.
1. The Current Situation in Africa
In the regions of Africa where the TUMIQUI Project is active, approximately 600 million people still live without access to electricity.
Even by 2050, it is projected that this number will remain above 450 million.
This persistent issue stems from a fundamental disparity: while the African continent is more than 80 times the size of Japan, existing power grids are concentrated in urban areas. As a result, vast rural regions remain severely underserved and unelectrified — left behind by conventional infrastructure development.
There is also a significant regional disparity in internet access across Africa.
While high-speed connections such as 4G, 5G, and fiber optics cover nearly 90% of urban areas, coverage in rural regions remains as low as 20%.
This digital divide has led to serious inequalities in education, healthcare, government services, and economic opportunities.
However, in stark contrast to these challenges, Africa is also a continent full of vitality and promise.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily slowed economic progress, the continent is now experiencing a strong resurgence—driven by expanding international support and, above all, a young and dynamic population with a median age in the 20s.
In particular, the countries of West Africa (ECOWAS region)—where we operate—have maintained an impressive annual growth rate of 6–7%.
When including the informal sector, which often goes unrecorded in official GDP statistics, the actual scale of these economies is believed to be even larger. As mentioned earlier, while Africa faces serious challenges—such as limited access to electricity and internet—it is also a continent filled with vitality and potential for growth.
When you walk the streets of Dakar and other cities, you can clearly see rapid urban development—new buildings rising, roads expanding, and commercial and residential projects accelerating.
If the infrastructure gap can be closed and the potential of the youth harnessed, Africa undoubtedly holds the potential to become the next global hub of innovation.
⸻
Indeed, there are still many areas in Africa where electricity and connectivity have yet to reach.
However, at the same time, this is also a place that holds the energy and conditions needed to build the future.
Through the TUMIQUI Project, we are committed to embracing this potential—applying technology and empathy to transform challenges into opportunities, and building a path toward hope and progress.
2. Our Chosen Region: A Unique Francophone West African Business Environment
When launching the TUMIQUI Project, one of our first strategic questions was:
“Where and how should we begin?”
Introducing renewable energy and ICT infrastructure requires more than just identifying needs—a stable economic and institutional environment that supports long-term operations is essential.
With that in mind, we chose the Francophone countries of West Africa as our starting point.
There are several strong and strategic reasons behind this decision.
First and foremost, this region uses a common currency called the CFA franc, which is pegged to the euro at a fixed exchange rate.
What makes this even more unique is that the currency’s stability is guaranteed by the French government, making the CFA franc one of the least volatile currencies in Africa in terms of exchange rate risk.
Secondly, the presence of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)—a regional organization of 15 member countries—is a significant advantage.
Within the ECOWAS zone, movement of people and goods is relatively free, providing a favorable environment for cross-border business expansion across multiple nations.
This is a major asset for Japanese companies looking to build supply chains and distribution networks in the region.
Thirdly, the shared French language and cultural cohesion across the region also played a major role in our decision.
While not widely recognized in Japan, Francophone Africa maintains deep historical and institutional ties with France, its former colonial power.
As a result, the region has many similarities in its educational systems, legal frameworks, and administrative procedures, making it highly compatible—not only linguistically but also institutionally.
Given our background in ICT infrastructure deployment in France, this region represented the perfect opportunity to apply our expertise and experience.
Additionally, compared to areas like East Africa, there is less competition from Chinese or Indian companies, and the non-Anglophone environment reduces market saturation.
This leaves more room for Japanese businesses to take on leadership roles in emerging markets without facing overwhelming competition.
From our experience on the ground, Francophone West Africa tends to be less competitive and more welcoming.
This combination of accessibility and sustainability makes it an ideal setting for long-term partnerships and effective policy collaboration with local stakeholders.
⸻
Therefore, the region TUMIQUI has chosen is not merely an area with numerous social challenges— it is a strategically advantageous and highly promising growth zone for international business.
In this region, we aim to transform infrastructure into future assets by building trust and applying technology step by step.
3. Our First Country of Choice: Senegal — A Safe and Strategic Gateway to Africa
Among the many nations in Africa, TUMIQUI selected the Republic of Senegal as its first operational base.
This was no coincidence. It was a deliberate, well-founded decision, backed by clear criteria and on-the-ground insight.
Africa is an incredibly diverse continent in terms of culture, religion, language, economic development, and political systems.
When it comes to doing business, the most critical factor is the stability of the nation.
No matter how attractive a market may be, a single coup can bring all business operations to an immediate halt. Without a solid legal framework, contracts and investments cannot be properly protected, and the sustainability of supply chains and local employment is put at risk.
In contrast, Senegal is one of the few countries in Africa that has maintained sustained stability. All political transitions have occurred peacefully, the country has a long-term track record of safety and security, and the relationship between government, business, and civil society is relatively strong. Senegal also maintains strong diplomatic ties not only with France but also with Japan and other democratic nations, creating a highly transparent and secure environment for investment.
Additionally, the Senegalese government has launched a national development strategy called Senegal 2050, focusing on renewable energy, education, healthcare, digitalization, and strengthening agricultural value chains—areas that closely align with TUMIQUI’s mission and approach.
What stands out most is the strong commitment shown at the local government level.
The city of Sandiara, which we selected as our initial pilot site, is located within a special economic zone and is a municipality deeply committed to advancing education, healthcare, and industry. The mayor, city council, and local residents work together as one, creating an environment that warmly welcomes external partners and offers unwavering support.
This kind of environment is incredibly valuable for Japanese startups.
Even small organizations can build close relationships with both local and central governments, making it possible to launch policy-aligned pilot initiatives. These “small starts” can then grow into large-scale projects at the national level.
⸻
Senegal is not only the starting point for our activities—it is also our partner in building the future.
We firmly believe that the trust we have established in this country will eventually expand across West Africa and to other French-speaking countries on the continent.
4. Taking a Visionary Approach Beyond Industry Boundaries
At TUMIQUI, our goal is not merely to deliver hardware.
We are committed to something deeper and more fundamental—a co-creation effort aimed at redesigning the very structure of society.
To illustrate this clearly, we have drawn our own conceptual model called the “TUMIQUI Philosophy Pyramid“.
At the top of this pyramid lies the sustainable development of African nations.
This means building communities that are no longer dependent on aid, but instead empowered to educate, work, live, and nurture the next generation through their own capacity.
But to reach that ideal, multiple layers must be in place.
Each step—healthcare, education, public services, the economy, and information flow—represents a vital pillar of social infrastructure.
And at the very foundation of it all are electricity and connectivity.
Without electricity, medical equipment can’t operate.
Without connectivity, remote education and access to agricultural market prices become impossible.
If the digital divide is left unaddressed, administrative services and financial tools won’t reach rural areas—leaving them perpetually cut off from national progress.
The idea behind the TUMIQUI Philosophy Pyramid was shaped through countless conversations with the Senegalese government and residents of off-grid villages.
This is why we’re deeply committed to delivering both electricity and connectivity—as a package—and doing so in ways that reflect the local context and culture.
This pyramid is not a theoretical model; it’s a philosophy born from real dialogue on the ground.
We’ve visited clinics without power, classrooms in total darkness, and villages completely cut off from the network. We’ve spoken with the people who live there—about the kind of lives they aspire to, what they need, and where change can begin.
This philosophy is the result of listening, learning, and building together—one conversation, one step at a time.
The ones who truly resonate with this vision and have joined hands with us are the Senegalese Ministries of Health and Education, as well as the local government officials from the municipality where we first began our collaboration.
⸻
By making social issues visible, applying technology as a means to address them, and envisioning a future that is co-owned and co-developed — together.
The worldview that TUMIQUI is striving toward is a bold attempt to create a new social model built through co-creation between Africa and Japan — transcending industries, institutions, and national borders.
5. The Danger Faced by Mothers and Children in Dark Clinics — What We Witnessed on the JICA SDGs Study Tour
In 2019, we participated in an SDGs study tour organized by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), visiting Uganda and Senegal in Africa.
The purpose of the tour was not to explore opportunities for aid or investment, but rather to confront the realities on the ground — to see the challenges firsthand and understand their true nature.
It was then that we encountered a scene that left a lasting impression—one we would never forget.
As night fell, we found ourselves in a clinic with no lights. In the darkness, a doctor was preparing for childbirth, holding a flashlight in his mouth to illuminate the delivery. Without electricity, medical equipment cannot function.
Even something as simple as recording notes in a patient’s chart becomes impossible in the dark.
And there, we were forced to face the stark reality: these “inconveniences” that might seem trivial are, in fact, directly tied to matters of life and death for both mothers and their babies.
Even something as simple as recording notes in a patient’s chart becomes impossible in the dark.
And there, we were forced to face the stark reality: this “commenplace inconveniences” , in fact, directly tied to matters of life and death for both mothers and their babies.
We couldn’t dismiss what we saw as someone else’s problem in a faraway place.
We couldn’t help but ask ourselves: What if this were my own family? How would people in my country react if they saw this?
The issue was so fundamental, so human, that it struck us at our core.
Soon after, we began developing the TUMIQUI Smart Kit.
Combining a low-power, bright lamp with a simple communications device, this kit aimed to create an environment where childbirth, medical treatment, and record-keeping could be carried out safely, even in clinics without power infrastructure.
Moved by both the practicality and the mission behind the project, the Senegalese Ministry of Health officially signed an MOU with us in May 2019.
A decision was then made to introduce the system to 10 non-electrified clinics, and local operations began.
We received one comment after another from the field.
“With lighting available at night, we can now safely perform treatments.”
“A life was saved because the small medical equipment used on newborns started working.”
“Now that we have communication tools, we can transmit patient data directly from the clinic—something that used to require a two-day trip to the city.”
As a result, we were able to reduce the number of days the clinic was closed, and continuity of medical care to save lives was restored.
⸻
This experience was the beginning of our business, and it remains the basis for all our decisions to this day.
Providing electricity and communications is not simply about building infrastructure.
It is nothing less than delivering “the possibility of life”.
⸻
We have created a promotional website for TUMIQUI. Please take a look at the aerial videos of the blue sky and the cute village.
TUMIQUI Project
Also, an interview with the doctor at the clinic where the system was introduced is recorded.
This doctor is responsible for treating 7,000 residents by himself.
Interview with the doctor
６．Build, Repair, Improve, and Distribute Locally
Infrastructure development in many African countries faces a common underlying challenge:
“When something breaks, who will fix it?”
In most cases, there is no system in place to answer that question locally.
Much of the equipment installed by international aid or external companies stops functioning when the maintenance mechanisms and parts supplies are cut off.
“Just install it” and “remove it when it breaks.” That’s just pointless.
We have faced this problem head on and have been determined to build a sustainable model locally.
At the core of the TUMIQUI Project is the creation of a system for making, repairing, and improving things locally so that “even if something breaks, it won’t be abandoned.”
The basis for this is the experience we have cultivated in France for over 20 years in IT integration and maintenance services.
Having supported numerous projects in Europe, we know the principle that “the sustainability of technology is supported by people.”
To realize this principle in Senegal, we first launched a program to train local young people as engineers.
Practical training, maintenance courses and actual repair work.
As a result, in 2024, we received a report that it was now possible to repair the actual TUMIQUI Smart Kit locally.
The smile on the local technician’s face as he told us, “We managed to repair it,” was the proudest achievement for us.
We are now preparing to take our operations one step further.
We are currently preparing to set up our own factory in the special economic zone in Sandiara.
The factory will be responsible for all aspects of TUMIQUI Smart Kit manufacturing, improvement, and repair, and will also supply the necessary parts.
Furthermore, the plan is for this base to become a regional hub with an eye toward expansion not just within Senegal, but to the 15 countries of the ECOWAS region.
From this base, we aim to expand into neighboring countries, offering sales, maintenance support, and technology transfer — fostering technology and industry from within West Africa.
⸻
We don’t want “sustainable infrastructure in Africa” to remain just our company philosophy.
What’s needed to achieve this is not just equipment or technology, but a system that allows local people to repair, develop, and spread it themselves.
TUMIQUI is creating social infrastructure, including the overall design.
7. Cross-Sector Application
The electricity and communications we aim to provide is not simply a means to an end, to electrify society.
It is a foundation and a starting point that will take root in various sectors of society and give rise to new possibilities.
The TUMIQUI Project introduces basic infrastructure such as lighting, power sources, and communication lines to unelectrified areas,
but its impact will go far beyond what one might imagine, reaching across multiple sectors of society.
Taking the medical field, for example.
Having electricity available means that doctors can see patients at night and medical equipment can be used more reliably, as well as vaccine storage.
Furthermore, if the communications environment is in place, medical records can be reported and information can be shared even from remote locations, improving the quality of medical care itself.
In the field of education, having reliable lighting allows for evening study sessions and classes to take place.
With access to communication networks, students and teachers can take advantage of educational content, digital whiteboards, and learning apps—just like in urban areas.
It will also have a major impact on the financial sector.
Until now, rural villages have not had bank branches, let alone ATMs, and have relied on cash management.
However, with communications infrastructure in place, mobile money and digital payments can be introduced, opening up a wide range of financial services, including savings, loans, and remittances.
In addition, in the agricultural sector, it is now possible to obtain market information on crop prices, weather forecasts, and sales channel information, and concepts such as smart agriculture and precision agriculture are beginning to be applied to rural areas.
And what ties all of this together is the simple truth: access to information is empowering.
The “benefits” that have previously been concentrated in cities will now spread to rural areas.
Social infrastructure such as education, medical care, finance, and agriculture will finally reach the entire country.
To achieve this, electricity and communications must first be available.
⸻
The TUMIQUI Project does not simply deliver equipment, but continues to refine this “power x communications” mechanism as a starting point for fundamentally redesigning the structure of society.
And now, we are about to embark on a new challenge: further integrating these applications at the implementation level.
8. Prioritizing Government Collaboration for Senegal’s Sustainable Development
We see the TUMIQUI Project not just as an “electricity and communications business,” but as a model for social implementation in which the state and private sector work together.
Why? Because in Africa, and especially in developing countries like Senegal, the improvement of “public services” such as education and healthcare is deeply linked to the government’s vision and policies.
If we try to tackle digital transformation in the educational environment, we will need approval from the Ministry of Education, which will be involved in the procurement of curriculum and educational devices.
If we take steps to improve health services, we will need to comply with the national clinic certification system and drug management rules.
In other words, innovation that ignores national systems is not possible.
For that reason, since our founding, we have placed the utmost importance on collaboration with the public sector, as a bridge between business and government.
Our MOU with Senegal’s Ministry of Health and joint demonstration project with the Ministry of Education were all made possible by building relationships of trust.
However, what is required here is more than mere formal greetings and the exchange of documents.
What is really needed are private sector players that understand the field, share a vision, and have the ability to execute and build trust.
Precisely because it is a small startup, TUMIQUI has been able to use its mobility and flexibility to take on the role of “diplomacy” in the private sector.
We have stood between the Senegalese government, Japanese private companies, and sometimes the Japanese government, designing the intersection points of technology, funding, and policy, and carefully building consensus on the ground.
This is not something that can be achieved overnight.
Because we have gotten to where we are today thanks to our investment not just in business results, but also in the intangible asset of trust.
⸻
TUMIQUI sees itself as an “Diplomatic Entrepreneur.”
Solving national issues through business. Fulfilling public responsibilities with private sector speed.
Such “challenges that transcend positions” are what Africa needs right now.
Our approach is a completely new style of international collaboration that combines Japan’s excellent technology and values while putting down roots in the field in Africa.
9. Launching a Pilot Project in Senegal Through Collaboration Between a Japanese Startup and Major Corporations
A business partnership with The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) was a key turning point for TUMIQUI in getting its demonstration projects in Senegal underway.
In February 2021, we entered into a partnership with KEPCO.
This partnership marked the beginning of the creation of a true infrastructure collaboration model that goes beyond simply providing technology and equipment.
The combination of KEPCO’s know-how in large-scale power supply and TUMIQUI’s experience in local implementation, operation, and dialogue has made it possible to introduce more widespread and practical electricity and communications infrastructure to unelectrified villages in Senegal.
The subject of the demonstration project was a local public school.
There, students gathered in dimly lit classrooms even during the day, spending their days without receiving an adequate educational opportunity.
There was no lighting. No charging. A shortage of teaching materials to distribute to students.
To this kind of situation, we introduced the TUMIQUI Smart Kit, an off-grid power source using solar panels, and communications equipment.
In just a few months, classrooms were lit up and connected, and the learning environment was transformed.
Children began learning with digital learning materials, teachers had access to urban resources, and digital education had made its way to rural villages.
The results were highly praised by the Senegalese Ministry of Education, and discussions progressed toward the next step of system collaboration and expansion.
Furthermore, through collaboration with KEPCO, a new form of public-private collaboration was born in which a major Japanese company is making a full-scale entry into Africa and is involved with startups in everything from demonstration projects to policy recommendations.
⸻
TUMIQUI may be a small startup.
But with sincerity and down-to-earth action, it can collaborate on an equal footing with large corporations and move society forward.
This project proved that.
And this “form of co-creation” led to the signing of an MOU with Senegal’s Ministry of Education and the city of Sandiara, which will be introduced in the next chapter.
⸻
*In February 2021, we announced a business partnership with The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (Japanese only)
https://www.kepco.co.jp/corporate/pr/2021/0222_1j.html
10. Signed an MOU with the Senegalese Ministry of Education and the City of Sandiara
Improving the educational environment in off-grid areas cannot be achieved by simply introducing equipment.
To bring about fundamental change, it is essential to build a sustainable model that connects local governments, the central government, and educational institutions.
As a first step in creating this model, we at TUMIQUI have been working with The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. to conduct local demonstrations.
And based on this success, in November 2021, we officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Senegal’s Ministry of National Education, the city of Sandiara, and us at TUMIQUI.
The MOU outlines a comprehensive collaboration to provide solar-powered electricity to off-grid schools in rural areas and digitize education using the TUMIQUI Smart Kit.
Specifically,
•Sanjay City selected local schools and provided administrative support
• The Ministry of Education supported curriculum alignment and system design for nationwide deployment
• TUMIQUI was responsible for technology implementation, maintenance, and local human resource development
These three parties played their respective roles and began full-scale efforts with an eye toward scaling up the system, rather than simply conducting demonstration experiments.
Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2021 and be completed in March 2022.
As a result, classrooms are now lit up and connected to the internet, where children can be seen learning on tablets and teachers can use the same teaching materials as in urban areas.
We have received feedback from schools where the system has been introduced, such as,
“The children have become more lively and are participating in class,”
“We have created a place in the village where we can sense the future.”
We ourselves have been surprised by the magnitude of the response.
The Ministry of Education has praised this initiative, saying it has made the standardization of local education a reality, and is considering incorporating it into a system as a model for future nationwide expansion.
⸻
The signing of this MOU marked the moment when TUMIQUI evolved from a technology introduction company to a national co-creation partner.
It was a moment when a small startup would work alongside large corporations, local governments, and even nations to change society.
This was a clear sign of the future that was about to take shape.
⸻
The press release on this demonstration experiment can be found here (in Japanese):
“SUCRECUBE Japon Inc. signs MOU with the Ministry of Education of Senegal.
In collaboration with Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., begins demonstration experiment to realize nationwide distance education using Green ICT.”
SUCRECUBE Japon Press Release（PR TIMES）
TUMIQUI Web Site
Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. Press Release
11.Future Direction
On June 30, 2022, with investment from Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., we will begin selling the “TUMIQUI Smart Kit” and lending it to businesses. We will also work with the Ministry of Education to sell the system, which we have verified and developed to a commercial level, as a solution called “TUMIQUI Power Digital Solutions,” and build a system for its introduction into education in Senegal and for even more stable operation.
In addition to education, we plan to expand “TUMIQUI Power Digital Solutions” to health clinics, agricultural and commercial facilities that require stable power and high-speed communications.
Reference URL: www.tumiqui.com
The TUMIQUI Project, which has focused on education and medical care, is now moving on to the next phase.
It is an integrated model of regional economic infrastructure that makes use of electricity and communications – the construction of a next-generation social infrastructure that integrates refrigeration, processing, sales, and finance.
In rural Africa, “post-harvest loss,” in which much of the agricultural produce rots and is discarded immediately after harvest, is a serious issue.
In Senegal, for example, the pre-shipment waste rate of mangoes is said to be as high as 30-50%, and a lack of distribution infrastructure and preservation technology is a barrier to producers’ profits and the country’s foreign currency earnings.
To solve these issues from the root, we have come up with an integrated solution supported by electricity and communications.
In 2025, TUMIQUI will launch a demonstration project in Sandiara that combines the following three elements:
- Solar-powered refrigerated warehouse: Maintains the quality of agricultural products and provides a cold storage environment that can withstand export and processing
- Food processing unit: Adds value by processing into purees and frozen products, and expands to domestic and international sales channels
- Digital KIOSK: Integrates mobile money, market price information, learning and administrative procedure functions
This model is not just “agricultural support”.
Farmers will be able to sell at a fair price, local young people will create new jobs, and local governments will start an economic cycle that will bring in tax revenue and foreign currency.
In addition, these efforts are now being fully launched as a co-creation business in collaboration with four major Japanese companies.
TUMIQUI is responsible for local implementation and strategy design. By combining with the technology, products, and brands of major companies, an unprecedented form of public-private collaboration between startups, major companies, and African governments is becoming a reality.
In August 2025, the plan is scheduled to be officially announced at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), and our concept will be disseminated to the international community as a “Japan-Africa co-creation model.”
TUMIQUI will continue to pursue “infrastructure development centered on people’s lives.”
It is the light that supports life, the road that delivers learning, the refrigerator that protects the ability to work, the communication that connects families, and the system that leaves value in the community.
Solving social issues with a system, not with charity.
And at the same time, achieving profitability and scalability as a business.
This is TUMIQUI’s challenge, and I believe it is a new form of international business originating from Japan.
In addition, as posted on a separate page, we have begun project proposals for business co-creation in multiple industries in Senegal. Please visit if you are interested.
Future activities will be announced in another news release.
