Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced new measures aimed at deepening Japan’s economic engagement with Africa, unveiling them at the opening of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
Central to the plan is the Indian Ocean–Africa Economic Zone Initiative, which seeks to connect Africa with Indian Ocean nations, support regional integration, and promote industrial development. Ishiba emphasized that this framework will create a more favorable environment for trade and investment by Japanese companies across the continent.
To facilitate this, Japan will expand the use of official development assistance (ODA) to establish distribution networks within Africa and beyond, helping strengthen logistics and supply chains. A new body will also be created to match Japanese businesses with international partners, encouraging greater private-sector participation in African markets.
Another key project is support for the Nacala Corridor Development, designed to link inland mining regions with ports on Africa’s east coast. This initiative not only advances regional integration but also enhances Japan’s access to essential minerals, reinforcing supply chain security.
Nearly all African nations are taking part in TICAD 9, where Japanese companies are expected to sign around 300 memorandums of understanding for cooperative projects across diverse sectors.