Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has travelled to Japan to take part in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), a major global forum focused on Africa’s growth and partnerships. The three-day meeting will hold in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025, and will bring together leaders from Africa, Japan, and international organisations to shape new strategies for trade, investment, and sustainable development.
Madbouly is attending the summit on behalf of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. His visit is seen as a significant step in reinforcing Egypt’s role in African development initiatives and in strengthening ties with Japan, a country that has maintained consistent engagement with Africa since the establishment of TICAD in 1993.
At the opening session, Madbouly will join Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, African heads of state, government officials, and representatives of global and regional bodies. The discussions are expected to centre on economic integration, trade facilitation, and new models of cooperation that align with Africa’s development goals.
One of the highlights of the summit will be Prime Minister Ishiba’s proposal for a new economic integration framework linking Africa with the Indian Ocean region. This initiative aims to expand trade corridors and enhance logistics to support the growing number of Japanese companies investing in Africa. Officials from Tokyo have confirmed that Ishiba will also introduce measures that encourage Japanese businesses to expand operations in Africa, including through partnerships with production hubs in India and the Middle East.
Egypt’s participation is not limited to the main conference sessions. On the sidelines, Madbouly is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with African and Japanese officials, as well as the leadership of major corporations. He will also attend the Japan-Egypt Business Council forum, a platform designed to promote investment opportunities and collaboration between Egyptian and Japanese companies. The forum will explore areas such as technology, infrastructure, clean energy, logistics, and manufacturing, which are key sectors for Egypt’s economic transformation.
Another focus of TICAD 9 is Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), which will be used to strengthen logistics and infrastructure linking Africa with broader international markets. This will not only support Japanese businesses already operating on the continent but also help African countries improve trade networks and economic competitiveness.
Japan has also announced plans for a new joint task force that will bring together leaders from industry, academia, and government to design strategies for deeper cooperation between Africa and Japan. This initiative fits into Japan’s larger Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision, which emphasises open trade, secure maritime routes, and balanced partnerships. Observers note that it also comes at a time when China continues to expand its presence across Africa through investments in infrastructure, mining, and technology.
Egypt, as one of Africa’s leading economies, sees TICAD 9 as a chance to position itself as a key player in regional cooperation. With its strategic location, strong logistics infrastructure, and a growing industrial base, Egypt is working to attract more Japanese investments while also expanding trade with African neighbours.
The TICAD process, since its launch more than three decades ago, has stood out as one of the longest-running frameworks for dialogue between Japan and Africa. It is co-organised by the Japanese government, the African Union Commission, and the United Nations. Over the years, it has supported projects in health, education, governance, and economic growth.
For Egypt, Madbouly’s presence in Yokohama represents both a diplomatic engagement and an economic opportunity. As African nations look for stronger international partnerships to address development challenges, TICAD 9 may offer a platform for Egypt and other countries to push for fairer trade terms, more investment in infrastructure, and sustainable financing for development.
The outcomes of the summit are expected to shape not just Egypt-Japan relations but also wider cooperation between Asia and Africa in the years ahead.
