The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in Tokyo have participated in the first Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum, organized by the Governments of Japan and South Africa from 3-4 May 2018 in Johannesburg. The Forum aims to accelerate the promotion of private-sector-led economic growth by encouraging networking among Japanese and African companies.

UNIDO’s Deputy to the Director General, Hiroshi Kuniyoshi, made a presentation at a plenary session on ”New frontiers for business in Africa and challenges for transforming economies in Africa” on 3 May. The DDG Kuniyoshi introduced UNIDO’s mandate and activities in Africa, and presented how UNIDO could help African countries industrialize by introducing leapfrogging technology.

During the forum, ITPO Tokyo and UNIDO hosted two side events. At the ITPO event on 3 May, Yuko Yasunaga, Head of ITPO Tokyo, presented the office’s activities aimed at promoting foreign direct investment and technology transfer from Japan to Africa, highlighting the advisory programme, which provides business matching opportunities, as well as a successful case of technology transfer between Japanese and African businesses in the Low Carbon Climate Resilient Industrial Development project.

At the side event on 4 May, the UNIDO Department of Energy hosted a panel session on “African Innovation and Industrial Development”, focusing on the energy-ICT-smart development nexus. Opened by UNIDO’s Deputy to the Director General, Hiroshi Kuniyoshi, panelists, including Abdelkader Himdi, Head of Operations and Maintenance of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) and Victor Mageto, Deputy Director - Industries of the Kenyan Ministry of Industry and Enterprise Development (MOED), presented the opportunities and challenges of seeking innovation and industrial development in each country. Ms. Kasai, CEO of E-Gates Ltd. and Steve Mutabazi, Chief Investment Strategist, ICT Sector, Rwanda Development Board, introduced the strategic concept of Kigali Innovation City.