President Ramaphosa Touches Down in Japan for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development
Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has landed in Japan to lead South Africa’s high-ranking delegation at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development Summit (TICAD9).
The TICAD9 Summit is set to occur in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025, themed “Co-creating Innovative Solutions With Africa.”
The Presidency has confirmed that the South African leader arrived in Japan today, Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
As per the Presidency’s announcement, the Summit will feature three Plenary Sessions focusing on established cooperation areas between the African Union and Japan:
i) Society: Realising a Sustainable Future;
ii) Economy: Promoting Trade and Investment;
iii) Peace and Stability: Ensuring Human Dignity and Human Security.
The 9th TICAD Summit occurs in the face of significant threats to global peace and security, ongoing regional conflicts, disruptions in global trade, and concerning unilateral actions by some nations, making multilateralism and collective solutions crucial.
High prices for fuel, food, and energy have profoundly affected developing countries, worsening poverty and increasing inequality amid limited job opportunities.
The escalating debt and liquidity crisis across Africa worsens socio-economic challenges and restricts governments’ ability to provide safety nets for their citizens.
Discussions between the African Union and the Japanese government at TICAD aim to foster collective solutions to these urgent issues.
As a member state of the African Union, South Africa will underline the necessity for support from the Japanese government concerning the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, particularly in infrastructure, peace and security, and health.
President Ramaphosa will also advocate for South Africa’s G20 presidency and seek bilateral economic partnerships with Japan to enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The year 2025 marks the 115th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Japan.
The two nations enjoy well-established bilateral ties within the structure of the Partnership Forum at the Ministerial level, maintaining strong cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, education, skills transfer, and capacity building through development collaboration.
Since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992, trade between Japan and South Africa has steadily increased.
Japan stands as a significant investor in the South African economy, with investments exceeding R90 billion, and over 260 Japanese companies contributing to more than 150,000 local jobs.
As the world’s fourth-largest economy, Japan’s total bilateral trade with South Africa reached R132 billion in 2024, with South Africa benefiting from a trade surplus of R52 billion.
President Ramaphosa intends to engage with influential leaders from Japanese industries and businesses.
Japan remains one of South Africa’s principal economic partners, boasting considerable investments and opportunities for further cooperation.
A high-level South African business delegation is also participating in TICAD9.
Moreover, on the sidelines of TICAD9, President Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote speech as the chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health, addressing parliamentarians, business leaders, and development agencies on the crucial need to enhance investments in the health of women, children, and adolescents for promoting peace and security.
Accompanying President Ramaphosa are International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, Science, Innovation, and Technology Minister Dr. Bonginkosi “Blade” Nzimande, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla, and other senior government officials.