The First Japan-Africa Business Forum
Concept Note and Proposed Program
1. Japan Africa Business Forum 2014
■ Dates : June 10 and 11, 2014
June 10: 9:30 – 18:15* From 19:00: Reception party (by invitation only)

June 11: 9:30 – 18:00■ Event Title: Japan-Africa Business Forum 2014
■ Theme: Succeeding In Africa: Unlocking Growth & Opportunities■ Organizers: African Diplomatic Corps, African Development Bank■ Co-organizers: JICA, JETRO■ Supporting Organizations (planned): Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries, Keidanren, Keizai Doyukai, JOGMEC, JBIC, UNIDO, UNDP, WorldBank Group, Africa Society of Japan, Alliance Forum Foundation, Africa Business
Promotion Support Network, etc.
■ Planning & Operation: Nikkei Business Planning and Editorial Center■ No. of Audience: 400■ Site: Iino Hall, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo■ Admission Cost: Free of charge
2. Background○At the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V)
in June last year, Japan and the African countries in attendance identified,"promotion of private sector-led economic growth," as a common priority andrecognized the importance for Japan of contributing to the growth anddevelopment of Africa through business activity. This can be achieved if theJapanese government makes progress with projects to support Africa and injects
ODA selectively in individual sectors, such as private sector development,infrastructure, agriculture, environment, health, medicine, nutrition, education andhuman resources development. At the same time, more Japanese companies areexpected to commit themselves to doing business and investing in Africa actively,
thereby enhancing their business partnerships with the continent.
○In January this year, Prime Minister Abe visited Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique andEthiopia. Accompanied by many Japanese business leaders, the Prime Ministerdemonstrated his determination to aggressively reinforce the business partnerships
between Japan and Africa. At the headquarters of the African Union (AU), hedelivered a policy speech entitled, "Japan’s Diplomacy in Africa: Empowering
Individuals" in which he stressed that Japanese companies should conduct businessin Africa in a manner that would encourage each individual African employee andpartner to enhance his/her competence and demonstrate ingenuity. In this way,
Japanese companies could serve as a catalyst to help Africa leverage its uniquestrengths. The Prime Minister also expressed his desire for Africa to have close
relationships with Japan and Japanese companies, and at the same time called onJapanese companies to contribute to "robust," "sustainable," "inclusive" and"green" growth in Africa by launching businesses and investing in the region,
saying, "I urge you to weave a new tapestry of growth, as you did in Asia over theyears, from Africa’s vibrant colors of thread. “○As the change and growth in Africa has been obvious since the beginning of the
21st century, Japanese companies have become increasingly aggressive in theirbusiness activities and investments in Africa. Following TICAD V, this trend has
gained greater encouragement and support within the context of Japan's policy tosupport African development and growth.

○To follow up TICAD V and Prime Minister Abe's recent visit to Africa and withthe goal of contributing to further enhancement of the business partnerships
between Japan and Africa, preparations are being made to hold the First Africa
Business Forum in Tokyo in June this year, one year after TICAD V. This event has
recently been proposed by the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC).

3. Features of this ForumThe Japan-Africa Business Forum will draw together leaders form the publicand private sectors. Africa’s and Japans top business thinkers, innovators,
and executives experienced business leaders doing business in Africa.

Featuring a combination of expert keynote addresses, lively panel discussion
and in-depth case studies. Speakers will explore debate and consolidate thetheme driving and acceleration Africa’s growth and profile Africa’s growing
popularity as an investment destination in the coming years.
The Theme “Succeeding In Africa: Unlocking Growth & Opportunities,”
shines a spotlight on enterprises operating across the continent in various
sectors featuring panels, networking and the business pitch form theregional groupings in Africa. The Forum will move past familiar discussionsof whether or why invest in Africa, and dives into explorations of innovationand operation already taking place.
This Forum will be planned and organized and will proceed in the following manner.
(1) Leading African business persons interested in building business partnerships withJapan as well as African officials engaged in private sector-led development andindustrial and investment promotion will be invited. Representatives of Japanesecompanies which have already invested or are already engaged in business inAfrica or which plan to do so will also be invited, as will Japanese officials
engaged in supporting business and investment in Africa.
(2) African participants will give presentations on recent business trends and business
opportunities in sectors and regions in which active entry by Japan is expected.
Japanese participants will give presentations on their current activities and future
visions for Japanese companies actively doing business in Africa.
(3) Discussions will also be held in connection with various topics, such as challenges
experienced in more actively doing business and investing in Africa and solutions
to the same, and creative ideas on how to further enhance the business partnerships
between Africa and Japan.
(4) This Forum is expected to give rise to creative ideas and specific advice on meansof creating new business partnerships between Japan and Africa, thereby promotinginternational business collaboration. With the cooperation of Keidanren (JapanBusiness Federation), Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)and other related organizations, efforts will be made to arrange workshops andevents as well to facilitate meetings between Japanese and African businesspersons.
4. Programs
Day 1: June 10 (Tue.)
8:30: Door opening(1) 9:00- 9:30: Opening Session(2) 9:30- 10:00: Setting the Stage(3) 10:00-12:30: Plenary Session 1: Energy and Infrastructure
Theme A: “Lighting Africa- Investing in Energy and Power
Theme B: Infrastructure – Transportation, Water, Social Infrastructures(4) 12:30-13:30: Networking lunch receptionThe African Lions –Africa’s Rising Entrepreneurs & Innovators
Introduction to promising African entrepreneurs(5) 13:45- 14:55: Plenary Session 2: Agribusiness – Reap what you show in Africa(6) 15:00-15:30: Presentation by METI and Representative of Japan Enterprises (1)“How Japanese enterprises can contribute to Africa’s move to more advanced
industrial structure”(7) 15:45-16:55: Plenary Session 3: Healthy Africa(8) 17:00-18:10: Plenary Session 4: Risk Management
Day 2：June 11 (Wed.)
9:00: Door Opens(1) 9:30-10:00: Presentation by Representative of Japanese Enterprises (2)(2) 10:30-11:30: Plenary Session 5: Finance: Investment Value and Raising Funds(3) 11:30-12:00: Plenary Session Closing & Closing Speeches(4) 13:00-18:00: Business opportunities in individual regions of Africa(Representatives from 5 regions in Africa will discuss business opportunities)
West Africa(13:00-14:00)
Northern Africa(14:00-15:00)

Central Africa(15:00-16:00)

Southern Africa(16:00-17:00)

East Africa(17:00-18:00)

(5) Parallel Events in the afternoon:
1. Business Partnerships Seminar (12:30-18:00)-Presentation by Japanese companies (about 30 minutes each)-Presentation by African companies and governments (about 30 minutes each)
2. Setting up the place for business matching
5. Sub Events- Reception party (Invitation Only)Time:
June 10 19:00-21:30
Site:
Imperial Hotel- Breakfast for Partnership with Japanese Business Community
Time:
June 11 7:30:-9:00
Site :
Imperial Hotel
Collaborator: Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)-Reception hosted by The Africa Society of Japan
Time:
June 11 19:00Site :TBA- East Africa Community (EAC) Business Seminar
Time:

June 12 (Thu)

09:15-11:45

Site:Kokukaikan 501-502 room

Organizers: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), African
Development Bank (AfDB)- Special Seminar on (Japanese) BOP and Inclusive Business in Africa
Time:June 12 13:30:-17:30
Site:
UN University Hall
Organizer : UNDP Tokyo Office , AfDB(ASRO), JICA