Africa

Kubota will develop markets in South Africa and Eastern Europe through a tie-up with Indian counterpart Escorts under a new brand called "E Kubota."
Agriculture

Japan's Kubota ties up with Indian peer to make tractors for Africa

Alliance with Escorts will make simply designed machines at lower prices

31 May 2020
Staff at INHS Asvini, an Indian navy hospital in Mumbai, attended a ceremony in early May to honor frontline health care workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. 
International relations

India sends hydroxychloroquine to Africa in war on coronavirus

Aid initiative to fill pandemic leadership failings of China and the US

18 May 2020
Pakistan has plans to create a smart city in Gwadar Port, a major part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Belt and Road

Pakistan request opens door for Belt and Road project debt relief

COVID-19 economic hit gives China little choice but to help cash-strapped allies

11 May 2020
A Chinese worker talks to his colleague at an oil production facility in Sudan in December 2010: China's foray into Africa coincided with the peak of the commodity supercycle.
Opinion

China's expensive bet on Africa has failed

Coronavirus crash in commodity prices has wasted $200 billion in investment and loans

1 May 2020
Nagad Station, the terminus at the Djibouti end of a railway that snakes 750 km to a suburb of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is staffed by Chinese. (Photo by Masanori Tobita)
Belt and Road

Coronavirus in Djibouti increases risk of China debt trap

Horn of Africa nation sees rapid infrastructure development, but with trade-offs

26 April 2020
A temporary temperature checkpoint is seen near residential buildings in Guangzhou's Sanyuanli area. China is under the international spotlight over treatment of African residents amid the coronavirus.
Coronavirus

China criticized for alleged African coronavirus discrimination

Relations with continent in jeopardy after complaints pour in from countries

14 April 2020
India wants to challenge China as a provider of humanitarian assistance in Africa just as it fights its own battle against the coronavirus outbreak at home. (© Nikkei montage/Reuters/AFP/Jiji)
Asia Insight

Into Africa: India vies with China for post-pandemic clout

Countries compete to deliver aid to strategic continent

14 April 2020
A locust invasion has caused a food crisis in Ethiopia.
Society

Locust swarms form dark clouds over South Asia food security

Beijing tells authorities to prepare for possible invasion

4 March 2020
The Standard Gauge Railway cargo train, pictured in May 2017, rides from the port containers depot on a Chinese-backed railway opened by Kenya's president in Mombasa: BRI is gaining speed throughout Africa.
Opinion

China expands influence in Africa as US plays catch-up

Beijing is combining military, economic and diplomatic efforts to boost its reach

20 February 2020
Cobalt, which is essential for lithium batteries, is one of the materials that the Japanese government will seek to increase stockpiles of.
Technology

Japan to lift stockpiles of metals for EVs, wary of China's clout

Tokyo looks to secure access to lithium, cobalt and rare earths

28 January 2020
The JCER predicts India will become the world's third-largest economy by 2060 as its service sector expands.
Economy

China and India to make up one-third of global GDP in 2060: JCER

Emerging giants forecast to approach US and Europe's combined economic might

25 January 2020
The debt-addicted U.S. federal government has a co-dependent -- global investors in a near zero-interest-rate reality.
Datawatch

Yield-hungry Asian investors bankroll US spending binge

Appetite for Treasurys remains firm as yields slip to bottom elsewhere

19 January 2020
Two years ago, Professor Oussouby Sacko became the first African president of one of Japan's 786 universities. 
Education

Japan's first university head from Africa champions diversity

Inspired by Nelson Mandela, Malian-born professor works to change minds in Kyoto

29 December 2019
Workers stand at the construction site of Eskom's Medupi power station, a coal-fired power plant, in South Africa in 2012. This and a sister project suffered huge cost overruns.
Energy

Hitachi to pay over $4bn in Africa dispute with Mitsubishi Heavy

Industrial groups settle clash over costs at coal power plants

18 December 2019
China customs officers display pieces of African ivory seized in a crackdown on a smuggling operation in 2018
Environment

Japan's ivory trade fuels illegal exports to China, Africa says

Illicit shipments continue to drive elephant poaching

9 December 2019
Women vendors display Nokia phone models for sale along with smartphones at the 'Computer Village' in Ikeja district in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, Nigeria May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye
Startups

China investors back Africa-focused fintech startup

SoftBank Ventures, Sequoia also throw weight behind Lagos-based payments company

21 November 2019
With capacity growing in 2020, Tangier's container port will be among largest in Africa.
Companies

Europe's Mexico? Sumitomo props Morocco in post-Brexit world

Trading house aims to lure Japanese manufacturers to five industrial parks

9 November 2019
Japan's Rugby World Cup players remain in high spirits after their quarterfinal loss to South Africa on Oct. 20 in Tokyo. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Rugby World Cup

In pictures: Japan's Rugby World Cup dream comes to an end

Emotions remain high after loss, satisfied with first advance into knockout round

21 October 2019
Young girls take a selfie in a store in Ganta, Liberia.
China tech

Little-known Chinese phone-maker Transsion is boss in Africa

Shenzhen company faces competition as others strive for foothold on continent

17 October 2019
A consortium including JGC built an LNG facility in Yamal, northern Russia. (Photo courtesy of JSC Yamal LNG)
Energy

Japan's JGC wins $3.7bn LNG plant order in Mozambique

East African plant expected to produce over 15 million tons a year

8 October 2019
Construction machinery maker Komatsu thinks the African market has plenty of room for growth, thanks to heavy demand for infrastructure. (Photo by Wataru Ito)
Companies

Komatsu to set up plant in South Africa to battle Chinese rivals

Strong demand for infrastructure investment attracts heavy equipment makers

20 September 2019
The central train station in Amsterdam: the Netherlands is one of the world's top destinations for "phantom" direct investment, a new study finds.
Economy

Tax avoidance drives nearly 40% of global FDI: report

'Phantom' investment flows into Netherlands, Luxembourg and other tax havens

10 September 2019
Ethiopian Airlines uses its hub airport in Addis Ababa to provide Asians with a gateway to the rest of Africa.
Transportation

Ethiopian Airlines to increase flights to China to 50 per week

African carrier to fly direct to Tokyo's Haneda as investments from Asia soar

30 August 2019
Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, speaks at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development on Aug. 29 in Yokohama. (Photo by Akane Okutsu)
Belt and Road

Djibouti has 'no choice' but China for infrastructure development

East African country hungry for other investors, says port authority head

29 August 2019
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (left) is Board Chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Nana Akufo-Addo (right) is President of the Republic of Ghana.
Opinion

Japan Inc should invest in Africa, healthier and wealthier than ever

Companies are punching below their weight and missing opportunities

29 August 2019