Japan-India-Africa Business Forum ｜Nikkei Asia Partner content

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Japan-India-Africa Business Forum

Cooperation between Japan and India is emerging as an important dynamic in promoting development in African nations. Prominent figures from the realms of business, government, and academia gathered in person and online in Tokyo on February 26 to examine that dynamic at the Japan-India-Africa Business Forum. Their gathering anticipated the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), which will take place in Yokohama in August 2025. The presentations and discussions highlighted both opportunities and challenges in furthering mutual interests through trilateral, Japanese-Indian-African interaction.

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Opening Remarks

The Japan-India Cooperation Initiative for Sustainable Economic Development in Africa

Yoji Muto

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)—Japan

Capacity building, skills development, and technology transfer

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister—India

1,500 success stories

Sibi George

Ambassador to Japan—India

The need for accommodating local culture and business practices

Tatsuo Yasunaga

Chair of the Board of Directors, Mitsui & Co. Chairman, Japan-India Business Co-operation Committee

Gratitude for Japanese and Indian assistance

Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade

Senior Vice President, African Development Bank

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Keynote Speeches

Strengthening connectivity between the Indian Ocean Economic Zone and Africa

Masayoshi Arai

Director-General, Trade Policy Bureau, METI

Proposals for enhancing partnership with the Global South

Ichiro Hara

Managing Director, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)

Session 1

Potential and Challenges of the Mega Economic Zone

Takamasa Mataki

Group Manager, Infrastructure Industry Transformation Group, Sustainability Business Consulting Department, Nomura Research Institute

Takahiro Sato

Professor and Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University

Bidisha Ganguly

Chief Economist, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

Katsura Daikuhara

Chief Economist, Managing Director, Head of Country Research and Intelligence, SMBC Bank International

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Session 2

From India to Africa: Corporate Strategy for Boosting Potential Economic Growth

Yuichi Kitao

President and Representative Director, Kubota

Kanwal Jeet Jawa

Member of the Board and Senior Associate Officer, Daikin Industries

Hideyuki Aoki

Vice President and Japan Country Head, Infosys

Kazuya Nakajo

Executive Vice President, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Session 3

People-to-people Interaction and Human Resources Development

Kenichi Ayukawa

Executive Vice President, Suzuki Motor

Naoki Ando

Senior Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Naho Shigeta

CEO, Infobridge Group

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Session 4

Leveraging Startups, Collaborating with Startups

Naotaka Nishiyama

Founder and CEO, Tech Japan

Sadaharu Saiki

Founder and General Partner, Sunny Side Venture Partners

Prantik Mazumdar

President, TiE Singapore

Kazuhiro Ohyama

Chief Operating Officer, Zoho Japan

Briefing Session

Japan Africa Co-Creation for Industry

Gaku Yoda

Deputy Director-General for Trade, Economic Cooperation and Export of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Products, METI

Indo-Pacific connectivity

Norio Maruyama

Ambassador for TICAD,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs—Japan

African-Indian linkages

Jun Karube

Senior Executive Advisor, Toyota Tsusho
Chair, Committee on Africa, Keidanren

Closing Remarks

Multi-layered Connectivity among Asia, the Middle East, and Africa

Takuma Miyaji

State Minister for Foreign Affairs—Japan

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〉 Next page: Page 2. Opening remarks

Organizer:

Co-organizer:

Partner: Nomura Research Institute
Supporters:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation),
The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO),
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

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