Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO; Chairman and CEO: ISHIGURO Norihiko; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) is set to host the TICAD Business Expo & Conference from 20 to 22 August 2025, as one of the Thematic Events of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
TICAD 8 provided an opportunity for Japanese companies to make the most of Africa’s latent potential, as partners in growth. To promote Japanese investment in Africa, the government welcomed a plan by the Japanese business community for a startup investment fund totaling more than 10 billion JPY, with a focus on startup efforts by the vibrant younger generations of Japan and Africa.
TICAD 9 event will comprise four zones—Japan Fair, Africa Lounge, Event Stage, and Thematic Exhibitions—bringing together diverse content in one venue in a new style of event organization, according to the organizers. A total of 196 Japanese companies and organizations (including 107 small and medium enterprises (SMEs)) will be participating in Japan Fair, the largest number ever, making the TICAD business Expo & Conference the largest-ever Africa-related event to be organized by JETRO.
Japan’s total trade with Africa in 2021 is estimated at 1.0512 trillion Japanese Yen in exports, and 1.5306 trillion JPY in imports. At events such as August 2016’s TICAD VI, Japan has worked out joint
public-private-sector initiatives to promote trade with and investment in Africa. As of October 2021, Japanese companies have a total of 927 locations in Africa, with more Japanese companies entering the
market each year. These companies are engaged in fields like manufacturing (26.1%), wholesale and retail (23.8%), services (10.5%), and construction (6.1%).
TICAD9 will be held in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture from 20 to 22 August 2025, led by the Government of Japan and co-hosted by United Nations, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), African Union Commission (AUC) and World Bank. In conjunction with TICAD9, JETRO has planned the TICAD Business Expo & Conference as a new style of business events that brings together diverse exhibits and opportunities for interaction. In order to support the proactive initiatives of Japanese companies to grasp expanding business opportunities in the African market, JETRO has updated its event model from a conventional exhibition to provide a more practical venue for business exchanges.
Japan Fair aims to create new business opportunities in the African market by introducing excellent products, technologies, and the services of Japanese companies to government officials and business leaders visiting Japan from African countries. The exhibition is comprised of eight thematic zones, based on the African Union’s Agenda 2063, including “Infrastructure,” “Health and Sanitation Improvement,” and “Food Value Chain.” A totally new addition for TICAD9 will be a “Pop Culture” zone.
Africa Lounge will feature the presentation of investment and business information from African governments for Japanese businesspeople interested in doing business in Africa.
The Event Stage will feature seminars based on business themes and thematic panel discussions by Japanese companies. JETRO is also planning panel discussions that bring together key persons from the African business community, as well as other pop culture and innovation-themed events.
At the Thematic Exhibitions JETRO will be showcasing the two themes of “Pop Culture” and “Innovation.” The Pop Culture exhibition will highlight the potential for business development utilizing content originating from Japan, and the Innovation exhibition will introduce groundbreaking ideas and technology that promise to open up a new future for Africa and Japan.
In addition to the record number of exhibiting companies and organizations at Japan Fair, the TICAD Business Expo & Conference will incorporate new approaches to exhibitions and planning, including pop culture and innovation, seeking to invigorate business exchanges with Africa in new and unprecedented ways. The event will bring together diverse stakeholders from Japan and Africa and is expected to create new partnerships and business matching opportunities.
It is indicated that JETRO will use this event as an opportunity to continue to support Japanese companies in raising their visibility and expanding their businesses in the African market.