Africa’s ongoing economic transformation has opened fresh markets for a range of overseas investors. In this new era of sustainable development and diversification from traditional markets, extractives are no longer the venture of choice for countries looking to expand their activities in Africa.
Japan’s recent investment strategy on the continent is an example of a multi-sectoral and forward-looking approach by this leading outbound investor. As the battle for traditional resources continues, this divergent outlook promises durability in the rapidly evolving Africa marketplace. In this article we analyse Japan’s expansion across Africa, the challenges faced by Japanese companies on the ground, and the country’s long-term strategy to expanding its footprint in the region.