Third Japan-Africa Business Forum (JABF)

Theme: Shaping a New Africa in the Era of COVID-19

Africa, a continent of the future, full of possibilities. Business opportunities abound even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, which has been experiencing dramatic economic growth in recent years. Now in its third year, the Japan-Africa Business Forum (JABF) is organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Asia External Representation Office in coordination with the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) in Tokyo. The forum brings together government officials and business leaders from Africa and Japan to discuss investment and business opportunities on the continent under the theme of “Shaping a New Africa in the Era of COVID-19” and provides an opportunity for participants to find potential business partners.

Please visit the links below for details on each session.
Outline of JABF 2021
Outline of Start-up Session
Outline of Online Business Matching

Archived Videos

※Subtitles are available ( EN, FR, JP)

Day1: Openings Light up & Power Africa

Day2: Feed Africa

Day3: Industrialize Africa

Day4: Start-ups

Day5: Integrate Africa

Day6: Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa

Photo gallery

Photos of the forum have been posted. Please proceed to this special site.

Outline of JABF 2021

Event Dates
JABF Sessions: June 29, 30 and July 1, 6, 7, 8, 2021 (6 days)
JABF Online Business Matching: June 29 to July 16, 2021 (3 weeks)
Location
Online
(Hybrid format. Only limited speakers will gather physically at the venue.)
Organizer
Asia External Representation Office (SNAR), African Development Bank
in coordination with African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) in Tokyo”
Co-Organizer
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Supporting Organizations
(no set order)
Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Keidanren, Keizai Doyukai, Association of African Economy and Development (AFRECO), African Society of Japan, Japan Business Council for Africa, African Business Promotion Support Network (AB-NET)
Atten dance
Free
Languages
Japanese, English, French (with simultaneous interpretation)

※The presentation materials of the speakers have been uploaded. Please note that only materials that can be published are included.

Program of the Third Japan-Africa Business Forum

※Kindly note that the program is subject to change without prior notice

Day 1: June 29 (Tuesday) Opening Session, Session 1: Light up & Power Africa

07:30-07:40 (GMT) 16:30-16:40 (JST) Opening Session

H.E. Mr. Estifanos Afeworki Haile
Ambassador of Eritrea; Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps

Mr. Toshimitsu FUNAHASHI
Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Finance Ministry of Finance, Japan

Mr. Jun KARUBE
Chair of Committee on Sub-Saharan Africa, Keidanren; Chairman of the Board, Toyota Tsusho Corporation;Co-Chair of Japan Business Council for Africa

Mr. Mutsuo IWAI
Chairman, Africa Project Team, Keizai Doyukai; Deputy Chairman of the Board, Japan Tobacco Inc.;Co-Chair of Japan Business Council for Africa

07:40-07:50 (GMT) 16:40-16:50 (JST) Keynote Speech

Ms. Bajabulile Swazi TSHABALALA
Acting Senior Vice President, African Development Bank Group

07:50-07:55 (GMT) 16:50-16:55 (JST) Speech on TICAD8

Session 1: Light up & Power Africa

08:00-08:10 (GMT) 17:00-17:10 (JST)

Opening Remarks

Mr. Osamu YAMANAKA
Deputy Director-General for International Trade Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Mr. Ali MEHEREZ
Director in charge of Energy Sector, Moroccan Investment and Exports Development Agency

08:10-09:15 (GMT) 17:10-18:15 (JST)

Panel Discussion

Moderator
Ms. Naoko KOYAMA

Partner, Dalberg

Panelist

Discussion, Q&A

09:15-10:00 (GMT) 18:15-19:00 (JST)

ADC Session

Opening Remarks

H.E. Mr. Rachad BOUHLAL
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco; Chair of Trade and Investment Committee (TRINVEC) of ADC

Presentation and Comment

H.E. Mr. Ahmed ARAITA ALI
Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti

H.E. Mr. Ayman KAMEL
Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Discussion

Day 2: June 30 (Wednesday) Session 2: Feed Africa

08:00-09:15 (GMT) 17:00-18:15 (JST) 

Opening Remarks

Mr. Masao MATSUMOTO
Deputy Director-General for International Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

H.E Mr. Oumer HUSSEIN
The Minister of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Panel Discussion

Moderator
Ms. Atsuko TODA
Acting Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank Group

Panelist

Mr. Papa Malick NDAO
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment of the Republic of Senegal

Discussion, Q&A

09:15-10:00 (GMT) 18:15-19:00 (JST)

ADC Session

Presentation

H.E. Mr. Rachad BOUHLAL
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco

H.E. Ms. Tabu IRINA
Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya

Discussion

Day 3: July 1 (Thursday) Session 3: Industrialize Africa

08:00-09:15 (GMT) 17:00-18:15 (JST) 

Opening Remarks

Mr. Yasuo TAWARA
Director-General of the Global Strategy Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Mr. Zephanie NIYONKURU
Deputy CEO, Rwanda Development Board

Panel Discussion

Moderator
Ms. Nobuko KOBAYASHI

Partner, EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd.

Panelist

Discussion, Q&A

09:15-10:00 (GMT) 18:15-19:00 (JST)

ADC Session

Presentation and Comment

Mr. Yutaka HADA
Japan Business Council for Africa

H.E. Mr. Mohamed El Amine BENCHERIF
Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

Discussion

Day 4: July 6 (Tuesday) Africa Innovates: Embracing the Power of Start-ups

08:00-09:15 (GMT) 17:00-18:30 (JST)

Startup Session organized by JETRO, JICA, UNDP, and UNIDO

Opening Remarks

Ms. Ahunna EZIAKONWA
Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA), UNDP

Moderator
Mr. Naonobu FUWA JICA Expert

Commentator
Mr. Jeffe FOUEJIO KOUMBOU
Business Consultant, Forbes Afrique

Commentator
Ms. Betelhem Dessie Asnake
CEO, iCog Anyone Can Code

Q&A

Closing

Moderator
Mr. Naonobu FUWA JICA Expert

Day 5: July 7 (Wednesday) Session 5: Integrate Africa

08:00-09:15 (GMT) 17:00-18:15 (JST) 

Opening Remarks

Mr. Masafumi YOKOTA
Deputy Minister for International Projects,Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan

H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Assane MAYAKI
CEO, AUDA-NEPAD

Panel Discussion

Panelist

Dr. Petina GAPPAH
Principal Legal Advisor Office of the Secretary General, AfCFTA Secretariat

Mr. Yoichi MIYAMOTO
President of Japan - Africa Infrastructure Development Association (JAIDA), Chairman of the Board and Representative Director, Shimizu Corporation

Commentator
Mr. Yusuke OKADA
Vice President, Corporate, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Tobacco Business, Japan Tobacco Inc.

Discussion, Q&A

09:15-10:00 (GMT) 18:15-19:00 (JST)

ADC Session

Presentation and Comment

Mr. Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh
President, Djibouti Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCD); President of the Executive Council, Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI)

Mr. Abdou DIOP
President of the African Commission, Confederation of Moroccan Entrepreneurs (CGEM)

Discussion

Day 6: July 8 (Thursday) Session 6: Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa

08:00-09:15 (GMT) 17:00-18:15 (JST)

Opening Remarks

Panel Discussion

Moderator
Professor Kiyoko IKEGAMI

Nagasaki University

Panelist

Discussion, Q&A

09:15-10:00 (GMT) 18:15-19:00 (JST) 

ADC Session

Presentation and Comment

Discussion

Introduction of TICAD8

H.E. Mr. Mohamed ELLOUMI
Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia

10:00-10:10 (GMT) 19:00-19:10 (JST)

Closing Session

H.E. Mr. Lulama Smuts NGONYAMA
Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa; Co-Chair of Trade and Investment Committee (TRINVEC) of ADC

Mr. Takashi HANAJIRI
Head of Asia External Representation Office, African Development Bank Group