Strata, Mubadala Investment Company’s aerospace manufacturing unit, signed an agreement to supply personal protective equipment to Japan’s Tokushima Prefecture as part of the Abu Dhabi-based company’s push to diversify into and export healthcare products.

Under the agreement, the two parties will explore potential opportunities in technological innovation and research and development, Strata said in a statement on Monday.

The agreement also covers opportunities to supply medical equipment and PPE to municipalities and government-related organisations within other Japanese prefectures.

“Since the establishment of our N95 production line, Strata, in-line with the UAE’s international humanitarian efforts, has endeavoured to support the global fight against the pandemic by providing personal protective equipment where it is needed most,” Ismail Abdulla, chief executive of Strata, said. “In addition to furthering this patriotic and humanitarian commitment to export PPE products that are ‘Made with Pride in the UAE’ around the world, this landmark MOU also facilitates wider collaborations in mutual interests including technology innovation across numerous industry verticals.

Last year, the aerospace company outlined its plans to diversify into the health technology sector as the Covid-19 pandemic fuels demand for medical equipment. Strata began producing N95 masks in partnership with Honeywell in May 2020 to satisfy local demand before seeking export markets. Strata’s pivot to healthtech is also in line with the UAE’s ambitions to localise high-tech manufacturing capabilities.

Strata will export PPE to Tokushima Prefecture, located on the Japanese island of Shikoku, which is home to more than half a million people.

“Our cooperative agreement with Strata Manufacturing will help build a stable supply chain of PPE products and essential medical supplies for our medical system within Tokushima Prefecture,” Kamon Iizumi, Governor of the Tokushima Prefecture, said. “The cooperation will also extend its efforts to ensure that other municipalities, government and other related organisations are supplied with medical supplies.”

Strata’s N95 production line in its Al Ain facility has supplied N95 masks and other medical equipment to the Middle East, US and the UK, according to the statement.

In September 2020, Strata and Honeywell marked the production of the millionth N95 mask from Strata’s Al Ain facility. The collaboration continues to provide critical PPE for the UAE’s frontline health workers, while enabling the country to become an international exporter of respirator masks during the global health crisis.

Operated by a combined Honeywell and Strata workforce of 70 high-skilled production workers, the dedicated PPE manufacturing line is now operating at full capacity and is on track to reach an annual production target of more than 30 million masks, according to the statement.