Africa-Press – Kenya. The 6th TICAD conference that was held in Nairobi in 2016
The Government of Japan has officially announced that the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) will be held from August 20 to 22, 2025, in Yokohama.
The high-level summit is expected to draw over 21,000 participants, including African Heads of State, Japanese government officials, global business leaders, and representatives from international and regional bodies.
For Kenya, TICAD holds strategic significance. The 6th TICAD in 2016, held in Nairobi, marked the first time the summit was hosted in Africa and spurred a surge in Japanese corporate interest in the country.
Held every three years since its launch in 1993, TICAD is co-hosted by the Government of Japan, the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, and African Union Commission (AUC). The platform promotes sustainable development, peace, and economic cooperation between Africa and Japan.
This year’s edition promises to be the most ambitious yet, with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) organising the largest-ever Africa-related business event in Japan. A total of 196 Japanese companies and organisations—including 107 small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—will participate in the Japan Fair, reflecting growing Japanese interest in the African market.
“TICAD9 will be a new style of business event,” JETRO said in a statement. “The TICAD Business Expo and Conference brings together diverse exhibits and opportunities for interaction. It’s no longer just an exhibition—it’s a dynamic venue for practical business exchange.”
The conference will feature four core zones: Japan Fair (showcasing products, innovations, and services from Japanese companies); Africa Lounge (where African governments will present investment and trade opportunities); Event Stage (hosting high-level discussions and keynote addresses) and Thematic Exhibitions (focused on areas like infrastructure, digital technology, health, and green energy).
“The acceleration of Japanese investment in Kenya began with the Nairobi conference,” noted the Kenya Investment Authority.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers highlighted that TICAD is about more than the ¥3 trillion (approximately Sh3 trillion) in Japanese commitments—it’s about building long-term industrial and trade partnerships with Japan.
TICAD8 was last held in Tunis in 2022, continuing the alternating pattern between Africa and Japan since 2016. With TICAD9 returning to Japan, expectations are high for stronger bilateral and multilateral deals, especially in infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology transfer.
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