At this year’s Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Japan reaffirmed its push to invest in Africa’s infrastructure—from bridges and roads to satellites and critical minerals. Though often overshadowed by China, Japan is quietly scaling up, offering patient capital from both the public and the private sectors. Notable successes, such as South Sudan’s Freedom Bridge and a planned road project in Ghana, are paving the way. Japan’s interest also extends to securing critical minerals from countries like Zambia and the DRC, as well as to digital and satellite technologies. For instance, Japanese tech firms such as Space Shift are leveraging satellite data to support agriculture and finance in Nigeria. As understanding deepens, Japan’s low-profile yet tech-driven approach could prove a game-changer in Africa’s development.
African Business
