“Boosting Africa’s growth with Japan: From Start-ups to Major Companies"
Japan Special Room as a Side Event of the Africa Investment Forum 2023
Date and Time: 16:00-19:00, 9th November 2023 (UTC+1) (Thursday)
Organizer: BDIR18 and PEXT, African Development Bank
Venue: Salle des Ambassadeurs in Palais des Congrès, Marrakech (Live streaming is available)
Vimeo (English Channel) https://vimeo.com/event/3754855
Vimeo (French Channel) https://vimeo.com/event/3754877
YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@AfDBGroup/streams
Languages: English and French
Objectives:
On 9th November 2023, the African Development Bank (AfDB) will host a Japan Special Room as one of
the Side Events during the Africa Investment Forum 2023 (AIF2023) to discuss "Boosting Africa’s growth withJapan: From Start-ups to Major Companies." The Japan Special Room will include presentations and roundtablediscussion focused on priority areas and themes of AIF2023.
The Japan Special Room aims to explore opportunities for boosting Africa's growth through partnerships,
investments, and knowledge sharing. By bringing together key players from both regions, the session seeks toidentify priority areas, discuss concrete measures for advancing projects, and raise capital for investment
opportunities. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen cooperation and create a conducive environment for sustainableeconomic development in Africa, leveraging the expertise and resources of Japanese investors, companies andpublic institutions.
1. Presentation Sessions:(a) Healthcare: There will be 6 presentations from 1 fund and 5 start-ups active in Africa, covering topics
such as new digitalization technologies, remote diagnostics, and data storage.
(b) Energy and Infrastructure: 7 presentations ranging from start-ups to major companies will focus on
renewable energy, including proven technologies like solar power, as well as cutting-edge technologies such as
green ammonia and hydrogen. Additionally, innovative infrastructure projects such as regional integration withroad PPP will be discussed.
2. Roundtable Discussion:
A roundtable discussion will be held, inviting eminent Japanese public and private sector leaders to discuss
ways to boost of Africa’s growth with Japan. The discussion will cover topics such as co-creation of theinvestment ecosystem between Africa and Japan, as well as concrete measures for advancing projects to bankablestages and raising capital.
Background Information:
The idea of Africa-Japan co-creating an investment ecosystem was initiated at the 8th Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD8) in August 2022, where the President of the AfDB, Dr. Adesina,emphasized the need for increased Japanese investment and operations in Africa. Following TICAD8, the AfDB
invited KEIZAI DOYUKAI (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), a professional association ofindependent business leaders/executives in Japan, to the Africa Investment Forum in November 2022 (AIF2022).
During the AIF2022, the AfDB signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with DOYUKAI to strengthen cooperation andbusiness ties between Japan and Africa.
Based on the SOI, during the AfDB President's visit to Japan in April 2023, the AfDB co-organized abusiness event "Japan-Africa Investment Ecosystem Co-Creation Forum" with DOYUKAI. The AfDB also helda roundtable discussion with selected business leaders, focusing on new technologies related to energy anddecarbonization, as well as innovative start-ups committed to contributing to the development agenda. The
success of this Forum shed light on Japanese start-ups which have been increasingly looking towards Africa as apotential market for expansion by addressing social issues. Africa offers a growing consumer base, a rising young
population, and abundant natural resources, making it an attractive destination for Japanese entrepreneurs. It has
been also observed that large Japanese corporations are collaborating with a new wave of young Japanese
entrepreneurs to explore the Africa market, utilizing their extensive global connections.
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Event Agenda
Event MC: Mr. Solomon MUGERA, Director, Communication and External Relations, AfDB
Event Facilitator: Mr. Naoshige KINOSHITA, OIC, Asia External Representation Office, AfDBTimeAgenda
Speakers/Panelists
16:00Opening Remarks- AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi ADESINA
16:10
16:10Photo Session- All the Speakers and Panelists of Japan Special Room
16:15
16:15Presentation Session 1: Health - Mr. Susumu TSUBAKI, Managing Director / Representative
17:00
SectorPartner, AAIC
(45 min session including 5 min - Mr. Kenta HARA, CEO/Founder, AA Health Dynamics
presentations/commentsfrom - Mr. Yoichi SHIMADA, CEO/Founder, Afya Connect
speakers and buffer time for - Ms. Ayako KASAI, CEO/Co-founder, Spikerspeakers’
introductionand - Mr. Kuniyuki FURUTA, CEO, SOIK Corporationhousekeeping)- Mr. Masaki UMEDA, Director and Vice CEO, SORA Technology- AfDB Vice-President, Agriculture, Human and Social
Development, Dr. Beth DUNFORD
17:00Presentation Session 2: Energy and - Mr. Satoshi AKITA, CEO, WASSHA Inc.
17:55
Infrastructure Sector- Mr. Abu Zahed AZAD, International Marketing and Business(55 min session including 5 min
Development Manager, KENS.CO; LTD
presentations/commentsfrom - Mr. Koichi SATO, Founder & CEO, and Ms. Lina ROBERT,speakers and buffer time for
Africa Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, SUCRECUBE Japon Inc.
speakers’
introductionand - Mr. Takuya HIROSE, Technology Cooperation Manager,housekeeping)
Steinmüller Engineering GmbH- Ms. Hiromi SUDA, Marketing and Business Development inAfrica and APAC, Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd- Mr. Takuma TERAKUBO, CEO & GENERAL PARTNER,UNCOVERED FUND
- Ms. Airi IKEDO, Director and COO, Index Strategy, Inc.
- AfDB Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy andRegulation, Mr. Wale SHONIBARE
17:5510 min Break
18:05
18:05Roundtable Discussion: Feedback to Presentations
18:55
the Presentation Sessions 1 and 2 - Mr. Ken SHIBUSAWA, CEO of & Capital and Co-chairperson,from business leaders and large
Global South Africa Committee of Keizai Doyukai
companies- Mr. Tadao SAIDA, Corporate Officer, Managing Director,(50 min session including 5 min
Sumitomo Corporation Africa (Pty) Ltd
presentations/commentsfrom - Mr. Yusuke YAMAMOTO, Regional CEO for Africa and General
speakers and buffer time forManager of Johannesburg Branch, Marubeni Corporation
speakers’
introduction
andComments/feedback
housekeeping)- Mr. Tomonori TATSUMI, Chief Representative in Paris, Japan
Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)- AfDB Executive Director Mr. Takaaki NOMOTO- AfDB Vice-President, Private Sector, Infrastructure andIndustrialization, Mr. Solomon QUAYNOR
18:55Closing Remarks- AfDB Executive Director Mr. Takaaki NOMOTO
19:00
Contacts:•Naoshige KINOSHITA, OIC, Asia External Representation Office. Email: N.KINOSHITA@AFDB.ORG•Midori NIHASHI, Admin and Finance Officer. Email: M.NIHASHI@AFDB.ORG•Yoshifumi TOKUSHIGE, Consultant for NSO Identification and Investment Advisory. Email:Y.TOKUSHIGE@AFDB.ORG
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