Japanese investors made fresh promises to bring business to South Africa at the 2026 Japan and Africa investment forum in Johannesburg, SABC News reported.
The forum was organised by Standard Bank and Japan’s Mizuho Bank. Speakers looked at trends, new ideas and the financing that shapes trade and investment between the two countries.
Japan is South Africa’s fifth-largest trade partner and its seventh-largest investor. According to SABC News, Japan wants to keep that position as it looks for new areas of trade and business.
Masahiko Ejima, a senior executive officer at Mizuho Bank, said interest has been strongest in energy, infrastructure and technology.
“We also talked about infrastructure. Like, for example, ports, rails, roads. I think these will be critical areas that Japanese technology and infrastructure capabilities can support,” Ejima said.
He said water was also discussed. He added that carmaker Toyota took part, and that the car industry is one area where Japan spends a lot in Africa.
Ejima said food, drinks and daily products also came up. He linked this to Africa’s growing population and economy.
Zoya Sisulu of Standard Bank said South Africa could reach economic growth of 3.5%. She said the country could also reach investment grade through strong partnerships, with the private sector playing a big part.
“The requirement of investment on the continent is massive, and no one, not one institution, and not one country can do that alone,” Sisulu said.
She said reforms in the economy give a chance to bring Japanese money and industrial skills to the continent.
Shintaro Matoba of the Japan External Trade Organisation said the partnership could help both sides. He urged South African businesses to also think about investing in Japan.
“We need to diversify our relations, not just providing natural resources and just importing the resources,” Matoba said. “So we would like to see the South African presence in Japan.”
Matoba said Japan values South Africa’s farm products and tourism. He also pointed to the country’s startups, IT firms and digital businesses.
South Africa has been working on reforms in parts of the economy. Rudi Dicks from the Presidency said this has drawn interest from other countries that want to invest.
Dicks said many firms are looking at reform openings in logistics. These include concessions at the ports and investment in rail.
“And then again, I think a lot of the firms continue to look at our mineral assets,” Dicks said.
The forum also held panel talks on growth, new pathways and policy changes that could grow trade and investment between Africa and Japan.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SABC Business. Image: SABC Business. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.