The companies include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited, Keihin Battery Company Ltd, Japan Carpet Company Ltd, Fuji Oil Holding Ltd, Fujifilm Corporation and Penta-Ocean Construction Company Ltd.

JETRO is a Japan public agency responsible for supporting Japanese business expansion offshore and those already operating overseas.

Addressing African Journalists invited by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to Japan to receive capacity building in Japan-Africa economic cooperation in Tokyo, a Senior Director for Global Strategy Africa at JETRO, Mr Makoto Matsumura, said the organisation was facilitating the realisation of that potential Japanese investment in Africa to strengthen the already strong Japan-African socio-economic bond.

Japan-Africa Business forum

Mr Matsumura said the organisation was, therefore, creating a platform to enable these Japanese companies to explore opportunities in Ghana and other African countries.

He said the platform would include the organisation of a Japan-African business forum and expo as one of the side events at the forthcoming Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7), scheduled for August 28, 2019 to August 30, 2019 at Yokohama, Kanagawa in Japan.

TICAD is an international conference, led and initiated by the government of Japan with co-organisers to discuss issues related to African development with African Presidents and other stakeholders from Africa and the International Community.

More on business expo

The business expo, he said, would include a Japan Fair and an Africa business lounge aimed at providing  the latest information on business in Africa and opportunities for multifaceted interaction between Japan and Africa.

He said the business forum would welcome political and business leaders, from both Japan and African countries, including the President of Ghana, to share the potential and vision of African businesses.

He said a special session introducing the development of new business areas and methods through collaboration between African startups and companies from various countries would also be held to spur the interest of Japanese companies in African business.

Mr Matsumura said Japanese SMEs eager to expand business to Africa with their technology and service would also present their excellence to visiting heads of state and delegations from Africa.

He said top executives from Japan, Africa and other foreign countries in the forefront of African business would introduce the latest trends and partnerships in African business to spur new opportunities.

There will also be forums on thematic areas including: African innovation and startups, multilateral business partnership and Japanese SMEs.

“Leading Japanese companies will be exhibiting their unique products, technologies and services for African countries while at an African Africa Lounge, an exhibition and networking space will be created for introducing the investment environment in Africa,” he said.