Business cooperation in Africa: new opportunities for EU and Japanese companies, and in particular EU SMEs, through the participation of the EU-Japan Centre in the Japan-Africa Business Forum.

EU and Japanese companies can achieve a lot together, including through partnerships taking place outside the EU and Japan. In order to foster EU-Japan business cooperation in emerging markets where many business opportunities remain untapped, the EU-Japan Centre took part for the first time in the 3rd Japan-Africa Business Forum in July 2021.
During a virtual B2B matchmaking session, the EU-Japan Centre successfully supported 9 European SMEs and 1 cluster active in various sectors such as agri-food, ICT, water & sanitation and manufacturing. The European participants were SMEs with pre-existing experience in Africa, looking for Japanese business and technology partners, or buyers and investors to grow their activities in the African continent. Some participants made solid connections with Japanese companies during the event and are now discussing concrete joint projects in Africa. The report of the event is available here.

Following this successful experience, the EU-Japan Centre will continue its matchmaking activities to foster EU-Japan business cooperation in emerging markets. Priority regions will be Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America and a particular attention will be given to SMEs and projects contributing to the green transition, the digital transition, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EU SMEs interested in matchmaking events with Japanese companies for joint projects in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America can contact Florence Arnu.
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Published: October 2021