Creates New Avenues for Co-Creation with Japanese Companies through TICAD9!

Axcel Africa K.K. (Head Office: Takamatsu, Kagawa; CEO: Hiroshi Yokoyama) participated in the Japan Fair within the “TICAD Business Expo & Conference,” a concurrent event of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held at Pacifico Yokohama from August 19 to 22, 2025. The company hosted an exhibition booth and took part in several side events throughout the conference period.

During the event, numerous visitors attended the booth and seminars, creating opportunities to exchange insights on Africa’s current realities and explore potential collaborations between African and Japanese companies. Many new connections emerged, laying the foundation for future joint projects and business partnerships.

Exhibition Booth: Creating a Space for “Belonging” and Co-Creation

Under the theme “Feeling Home”, Axcel Africa’s booth featured panels introducing the activities of partner companies and organizations it has supported in business development and project operations across Africa. For companies not exhibiting in person, Axcel Africa prepared a corkboard display for flyers and shared information to enable visitors to learn widely about ongoing initiatives across the continent.

The booth also hosted one-on-one consultation sessions for companies considering African market entry or local partnerships, attracting many visitors each day and concluding successfully. Moreover, Axcel Africa actively connected booth visitors with one another, facilitating networking and the sharing of interests and strengths—thus cultivating new seeds of collaboration.

A special talk session titled “Japanese Innovators Challenging Africa” was also held within the booth. Speakers included Mr. Wakabayashi, leader of the first cohort of the Africa Youth Social Entrepreneurship Program (AYSEP) led by UNIDO Tokyo Office and the University of Tokyo, and Mr. Miyamura, CEO of Genutokyo, who is pursuing a social enterprise model combining business and NPO activities in Senegal. The session offered diverse perspectives and practical insights into co-creation between Africa and Japan.

Through these panels and sessions, the exhibition space successfully expanded concrete ideas and networks for deeper Japan–Africa collaboration.

Hosted Seminar: “Japanese Companies Taking on the Challenge in Africa”

During TICAD9, Axcel Africa hosted a seminar and panel discussion titled “Japanese Companies Taking on the Challenge in Africa: Exploring Business Possibilities through Local Collaboration.”

Panelists included representatives from Musashi Seimitsu Industry, Kotatsu (SHIFT80), MAGO MOTORS JAPAN, and Panasonic Information Systems. Each shared experiences and perspectives on challenges and opportunities in local collaboration, offering practical insights into overcoming obstacles and defining the meaning of “co-creation” in Africa.

The session drew a full audience, with participants deeply engaged—underscoring the growing interest among Japanese companies in African business opportunities.

Axcel Africa’s Contributions at TICAD9 Thematic Events

Axcel Africa CEO Hiroshi Yokoyama spoke at several side events during TICAD9, emphasizing the significance of collaboration and mutual learning between Japan and Africa.

UNIDO × The University of Tokyo AYSEP Pitch Event (August 19)

Yokoyama served as a judge for student-led business plan presentations focused on Africa, providing comments from the perspective of on-the-ground operations in Kenya.

ABE Initiative / TOMONI Africa Session (August 21)

Participating in a session reviewing outcomes of the ABE Initiative and introducing the new “ABE Initiative 4.0” and “TOMONI Africa” concepts, Axcel Africa shared examples of collaboration with the Kakehashi Africa alumni network.

Thematic Event: “The Future of AI Utilization in Africa” (August 22)

Speaking at an event organized by the NPO PLAS, Yokoyama discussed applications of AI and Web3 in Africa’s business and international development sectors, showcasing examples from Axcel Africa’s software engineer training projects in Kenya and Nigeria.

Through these engagements, Axcel Africa highlighted diverse initiatives bridging Japan and Africa, reaffirming the importance of mutual exchange and cooperation.

Summary and Future Outlook

Through TICAD9, Axcel Africa successfully created tangible touchpoints for strengthening co-creation between Japan and Africa. Building on the relationships and ideas developed through exhibitions, seminars, and networking, the company aims to further accelerate collaborative business development.

Beyond the traditional notion of “developing countries,” Axcel Africa continues its mission to present Africa as a region brimming with business potential to Japanese corporations—driving the creation of even more partnership opportunities.

Companies and organizations considering expansion into Africa or collaboration with local partners are encouraged to reach out to Axcel Africa. Leveraging its on-the-ground experience and strong networks, the company provides tailored, practical support to turn ideas into concrete business development.