Largest number ever of around 200 Japanese companies to participate in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Business Expo & Conference
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO; Chairman and CEO: ISHIGURO Norihiko; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) (www.JETRO.go.jp) is pleased to announce that it will 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). This 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 organisation. A total of 196 Japanese companies and organisations (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 organised by JETRO.
Download Exhibitor List: https://apo-opa.co/3F6KiAM
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 Programme (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 utilising 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 organisations 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.
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.
Overview
TICAD9
Name: Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9)
Date: Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 August 2025
Organiser: Led by the Government of Japan, and co-hosted by the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African Union Commission, and the World Bank
Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Official website: (English) https://apo-opa.co/4meBrh8
(Japanese) https://apo-opa.co/4jSsIzF
TICAD Business Expo&Conference
Date: Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 August 2025
Organiser/Co-Organiser: JETRO, Japan Business Council for Africa (JBCA)
Supported by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Venue: Pacific Yokohama, Hall B&C (Minato-Mirai 1-1-1, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0012)
Total area: 10,000 m 2
Zones: Japan Fair, Africa Lounge, Event Stage, Thematic Exhibitions
About Japan Fair
Expected exhibitors: 196 companies and organisations (as of May 13) (excluding duplicates) (including in-booth exhibits)
*Of the above number, 107 participants are SMEs
*Participants from 30 Japanese prefectures.
Yamagata (1), Fukushima (1), Ibaraki (1), Gunma (1), Saitama (2), Chiba (2), Tokyo (111), Kanagawa (18), Niigata (1), Ishikawa (2), Yamanashi (1), Nagano (6), Gifu (1), Shizuoka (2), Aichi (6), Shiga (1), Kyoto (7), Osaka (15), Hyogo (13), Nara (1), Okayama (1), Hiroshima (2), Tokushima (1), Kagawa (2), Ehime (2), Fukuoka (1), Saga (1), Kumamoto (2), Miyazaki (1), Okinawa (2). (Figures in parenthesis indicate number of companies/organisations. Includes companies/organisations with more than one location.)
*Number of participants by zone:
Japanese Companies Driving Growth in Africa: 63
Transforming Infrastructure: 55
Advancing Healthcare and Sanitation Standards: 24
Food Value Chain: 23
Skills for the Future: 14
Climate Solutions: 14
Sustainable Urban Development Solutions: 3
Pop Culture: 2
Overview and outcomes of Japan-Africa Business Expo held at TICAD7 in 2019
Date: 28-30 August 2019
Total area: 6,700 m 2
No. of visitors: Approx. 21,000
No. of Japan Fair exhibitors: 156 companies/organisations (including 81 SMEs)
No. of exhibiting countries in Africa Lounge: 45
Attachment
List of expected participating companies/organisations
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
Inquiries about this press release:
Kubo, Yamada, Ishikawa
Business Frontier Development Division
Overseas Business Development Department
JETRO
Ark Mori Building
6F 12-32, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku
Tokyo 107-6006 Japan
E-mail: ticad9-jf@jetro.go.jp
Tel: 03-3582-5170
About JETRO:
JETRO is a policy implementation organisation that aims to contribute to the further development of Japan's economy and society through trade and investment promotion and research on developing countries. With an international and domestic network comprising over 70 overseas offices and approximately 50 domestic operating hubs, including Tokyo Headquarters, JETRO Osaka, the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE) and regional offices, JETRO contributes to Japan's corporate activities and trade policy through surveys and studies, working agilely and efficiently to support the creation of innovation, exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and foodstuffs, and the overseas expansion of Japanese enterprises.
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