“Driving Africa is now a partner that grows together.” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed at the press conference of the 7th African Development Conference (TICAD7) held in Japan at the end of August.
The agenda is to revitalize businesses centered on aid and private investment, and to help Japanese companies advance into Africa. That was the aim of the Japanese government. At the venue, about 150 companies and organizations are eager to promote their products and activities. Compared to TICAD held at the same venue six years ago, I felt that more people were interested in Africa, where the economy grew and the population increased rapidly.
However, it is unclear whether Japanese companies, including SMEs, will enter the African countries in the future.
Trading company expanding into western Africa…