Highlights from the 2025 TICAD Business Expo and Conference in Yokohama

TICAD Business Expo and Conference (TBEC) took place last month as an integral part of TICAD9. As the heads of states discussed the governmental relationship between Japan and Africa, in the sidelines of TICAD9, the business community was concurrently exploring the business opportunities and discussing the business challenges between Japan and Africa during TBEC.

JETRO Johannesburg traveled with a delegation from Southern Africa and six of the delegates were representatives from South Africa. This year, the focus for areas for TBEC were supply chain, infrastructure, healthcare and sanitation, food value chain, skills development, climate solutions, urban development, and pop culture. South Africa was well-represented in many of the categories, and we also had an invitee from Namibia.

The participants took part in many of activities Japan, including panel discussions, business meetings with Japanese companies, and even visiting an anime studio in Tokyo.

Our guest from B20 South Africa spoke to the many aspects of business in Africa, such as   African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), promoting inclusive growth and a just energy transition, as important topics that will be part of the G20 Summit. TBEC also hosted a hydrogen symposium and was an opportunity for two of our guests to speak about the green hydrogen initiatives and opportunities in Southern Africa.

In addition, JETRO Johannesburg held a fireside chat with the CEO of Tyme Group, the parent company to Tyme Bank, and the Managing Partner for Norrsken22, an African venture capital and a Tyme Bank investor.

The excitement did not end there, the youth was also represented by a South African content creator, Shakirah Sithole, who confirmed, for Japanese companies, the business opportunities available in South Africa around anime products and content IP licensing.

Furthermore, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) showcased two South African companies, Sovereign and Jendamark, as companies that are ready to collaborate with Japanese companies for solutions to some of their business challenges while exploring opportunities through the J-Twende reverse pitch. Finally, the NMBBC CEO, Denise van Huyssteen, introduced the Bay of Opportunity which is an initiative to promote business opportunities in the Bay.

Ms. van Huyssteen described her experience at TBEC to Daily Maverick and spoke about the need to diversify business relationships and Japan being suitable partner since a healthy political and trading relationship already exists between the two countries. She said, “At the same as looking to open up new markets, a trading relationship with an existing partner such as Japan, which dates back more than a century, is one that must be cultivated and strengthened”

In our meetings with various Japanese businesses, it was clear that Japan wants to increase trade with the growing markets of Africa, and that the country seeks mutually beneficial trading relationships” (van Huyssteen, 2025).

Read full article here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2025-09-07-nelson-mandela-bay-fighting-reciprocal-tariffs-by-exploring-other-markets/