Ramaphosa Calls for Deeper Africa–Japan Economic Partnership at TICAD9

21 August 2025 | Yokohama, Japan

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged stronger collaboration between Africa and Japan, calling for “bold action and strategic partnerships” to reshape global trade, industry and development in the face of growing economic uncertainty.

Delivering remarks during Plenary Session 2 on the Economy at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama on Thursday, President Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s efforts to modernise its economy while positioning Africa as a key player in the global economic order.

“Africa must not merely react to these forces. We must help to shape them,” he said, referring to the rapid shifts brought by new industrial revolutions and global trade realignments.

The President outlined South Africa’s progress in stabilising energy supply, modernising infrastructure, and opening ports and rail networks to private sector investment. He emphasised a reindustrialisation agenda centred on localisation, green energy, and regional integration.

Ramaphosa also pointed to key policy initiatives, including:

• Incentives for electric vehicle and battery production, alongside support for green hydrogen value chains.
• Growth of health manufacturing capacity, with a focus on vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Expansion of digital infrastructure to bridge access gaps and improve service delivery.

Central to his message was the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he described as a cornerstone of Africa’s economic vision. He stressed South Africa’s ambition to serve as a continental industrial hub from which Japanese and global firms can access African markets.

“We are actively working with the AfCFTA Secretariat to finalise value-chain protocols in automotive, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and textiles,” he said, adding that harmonised Rules of Origin and upgraded border infrastructure would enable faster movement of goods across the continent.

Ramaphosa cautioned against reliance on limited markets, noting that recent U.S. tariff actions on African goods underscored the need for diversification. He appealed to Japan to support tariff cooperation that would ease African access to global markets.

The President underscored Africa’s priorities for partnership with Japan, including infrastructure, energy, digital development, financing for skills, youth innovation, and small business growth.

“Africa is not seeking aid. It is seeking partners. Partners that understand value co-creation, sustainable development and mutual industrialisation,” Ramaphosa concluded.

TICAD9, hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, has brought together African leaders, Japanese officials and global stakeholders to deepen cooperation on development, investment and economic transformation across the continent.