Press Releases
First Meeting of the Study Group on Strengthening Japan-Africa Economic Partnership
At TICAD 9 held last August, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, then Prime Minister of Japan, announced the establishment of the “Study Group on Strengthening Japan-Africa Economic Partnership” as one of the concrete initiatives of the Japanese Government’s policy on Africa. The first meeting of this study group is scheduled for June 18 in a hybrid format.
Under the framework of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”, this study group will address African economic integration, a top priority for the African Union (AU). Through strengthening economic cooperation between Japan and Africa, the study group aims to support business expansion of Japanese companies in the African market. To this end, the study group will discuss various topics including measures to promote regional economic integration in Africa, review of trade and investment between Japan and Africa, and the strengthening of economic relations between Japan and Africa. The study group will prepare a report by the end of the fiscal year 2027, which will be submitted to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(Reference1) Japanese Members
Prof. WATANABE Yorizumi, Professor Emeritus, Keio University; Dr. KIMURA Fukunari, President, JETRO Asian Economic Research Institute; Mr. FUJITA Ryoji, Executive Officer, Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Representative from Keidanren); WATANABE Tatsuro, Managing Executive Officer, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (Representative from Keizai Doyukai); IGARASHI Katsuya, Director and Head of International Department, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(Reference2) African Members
Mr. Lacina Kone, Director General and CEO, Smart Africa Alliance; Mr. Kulekani Mathe, CEO, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA); Dr. E. Olawale Ogunkola, Professor of Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and the African Union Commission (AUC).
(Note) In addition, relevant Ministries, agencies, and individuals with expertise are expected to attend depending on the agenda.
