Japan is deepening its economic and industrial investment footprint in South Africa. This as the 2026 Japan and Africa investment forum sees renewed commitments from investors on bringing business to the country.

Organised by Standard Bank and Mizuho bank, the forum looked at trends, opportunities, innovations and financing that shapes the future of trade and investment.

Japan wants to maintain its position as South Africa’s fifth-largest trade partner and seventh-largest investor as it looks at opportunities and areas of trade, investments and business partnerships between the two nations.

Japan is deepening its economic and industrial investment footprint in South Africa. This as the 2026 Japan and Africa investment forum in Johannesburg sees renewed commitments from investors on bringing business to the country. Organised by Standard Bank and Mizuho Bank, the forum looked at trends, opportunities, innovations and financing that shapes the future of trade and investment #SABCNews #Japan

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Senior Executive Officer at Japan’s Mizuho bank Masahiko Ejima says the interest has been in energy, infrastructure and technology.

Masahiko Ejima from Mizuho Bank says they talked about power and energy.

“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 development of this key infrastructure project. We talked about water as well. So but not limited to that. I think we had the representation from the automobile industry, Toyota. I think that’s one area that we are also spending significantly in Africa, and, of course, with the growing population and the growing macro economy, I think the B2C element is not to be forgotten. I think there was discussion about food, beverage, you know, daily products, which is also, I think, very significant on the back of the population growth in them.”

Standard Bank’s Zoya Sisulu says it’s possible for the country to achieve a 3,5% economic growth and achieve positive investment grades through meaningful partnerships, with the private sector having a key role to play.

” The requirement of investment on the continent is massive, and no one, not one institution, and not one country can do that alone. And so it’s important to attract investment, and it’s important to set fertile ground, to make Africa, South Africa, and all the countries across continent attractive from an investment perspective. So really talking about the positive momentum from a macro reform perspective, and the opportunities that really provides to bring Japanese capital and industrial capability on the continent.”

The Japan External Trade Organisation’s Shintaro Matoba says the partnership can be mutually beneficial as they encourage local businesses to also think about investing in Japan.

“We need to diversify our relations, not just providing natural resources and just importing the resources but we need to, strengthen this relations especially with the uncertain, situation, all over the world. So we awould like to see the South African presence in Japan. Of course, you know, you are Rugby players, we also have lots of like players in Japan. However, we do this and promote more economic relations between our countries. So we very much appreciated your agricultural product, tourism for example, and you have a lot of advanced technology, saying that, you know, a lot of startups, IT businesses, and the digital kinds of businesses.”

South Africa has been working on reforms in key areas of the economy and the presidency’s Rudi Dicks says the country has since seen interest from other nations that are looking to come into South Africa.

“They’re quite involved from a 0 bank in some of those investments. That’s been the critical drive of the reform program. There’s also the logistics space, right? I think many of the firms are quite easy in looking at what are the reform opportunities that are there around the concessioning in the ports, for example, or investments in rail. And then again, I think a lot of the firms continue to look at our mineral assets.”

The gathering also saw panel discussions on new pathways, growth and policy developments that can deepen Africa-Japan trade and investments.