Report on Participation in Africa CEO Forum 2025: Advancing Japan-Africa Collaboration

In May 2025, our CEO, Kohei Muto, attended the “Africa CEO Forum 2025” held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Often referred to as the “Davos of Africa,” this forum brought together over 2,800 key decision-makers—including government officials, business leaders, and investors—from more than 90 countries to discuss Africa’s economic growth and sustainable development.

The theme for this year was “Can a New Deal Between State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?” Against the backdrop of the full-scale implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the anticipated expansion of intra-African trade, the forum emphasized the importance of economic integration across the continent and its growth potential. Discussions also focused on sustainable development initiatives such as reforming public transportation using EV and digital technologies, and restructuring cross-border supply chains, with a particular emphasis on the essential role of public-private partnerships.

During the forum, governments and companies from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and other countries announced MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) aimed at joint investment and collaborative business development with stakeholders both within and outside Africa. By leveraging cross-sectoral collaboration, these initiatives are expected to accelerate innovation that simultaneously generates economic benefits and social impact.

At the forum, Muto engaged with key stakeholders, including Mr. Takehiko Matsuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry(METI), and DFP’s strategic partners such as the Shell Foundation. He held meetings with a range of institutions and companies to discuss how to align objectives and approaches with stakeholders in a way that shares risk, promotes investment in high-risk African startups, and contributes to addressing social challenges across the continent.

DFP has long served as a bridge between Japan and Africa, promoting mutual understanding and collaboration. It also serves as Secretariat of the Japan-Africa Co-Creation Initiative (JACCI)*, as introduced by Vice-Minister Matsuo during the forum. Building on the insights and networks gained at the event, we will further advance strategic investment in African innovation and support Japanese companies in entering African markets, helping to shape a sustainable future.

The Japan Africa Co-Creation for Industry (JACCI) :
JACCI is a joint public-private initiative aimed at promoting collaboration and market entry between stakeholders in Japan and Africa. As Secretariat, DFP contributes by leveraging its expertise in bridging African startups and Japanese companies, supporting PoC and collaborative projects, investing in startups, and facilitating local market entry.