Japan Plans to Grow Africa Investments to Ease Reliance on China

BREAKING NEWSJune 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM UTC

TLDR

Japan is intensifying efforts to deepen trade and investment ties with Africa, moving beyond its traditional role as a donor
The push follows a shift in Japan’s economic outlook as the country emerges from decades of deflation
Notable moves include Mitsui & Co.'s winning bid for a stake in First Quantum Minerals’ Zambian copper mines and Hitachi’s development of hybrid trucks

Japan is intensifying efforts to deepen trade and investment ties with Africa, moving beyond its traditional role as a donor to position its companies as key players on the continent. The push follows a shift in Japan’s economic outlook as the country emerges from decades of deflation, reigniting private-sector appetite for global expansion.

Takehiko Matsuo, vice-minister for international affairs at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, told Bloomberg that Japanese businesses are becoming more proactive about entering global markets, and Africa is now on their radar.

“Africa is one of the destinations where we expect Japanese companies” to grow, Matsuo said.

While Africa currently accounts for just 0.5% of Japan’s total foreign direct investment, interest is growing, particularly in sectors like critical minerals, base metals, and rare earths. Tokyo is seeking to reduce dependence on China, Africa’s largest trading partner.

Notable moves include Mitsui & Co.'s winning bid for a stake in First Quantum Minerals’ Zambian copper mines and Hitachi’s development of hybrid trucks to support greener mining. Japan’s investment comes at a time when U.S. foreign aid is declining under President Trump’s second term, making Tokyo’s sustained engagement more strategically relevant for African economies.

Daba is Africa's leading investment platform for private and public markets. Download here

Key Takeaways

Japan’s growing engagement with Africa is part of a broader global realignment driven by supply chain diversification and geopolitical tensions. As competition over access to strategic resources intensifies, Tokyo is betting on Africa’s reserves of copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earths to bolster its manufacturing and green energy sectors. Japanese firms, traditionally risk-averse, are now exploring opportunities in African economies where resource extraction, infrastructure, and industrial partnerships align with Tokyo’s goals of securing critical inputs. This approach mirrors Japan’s cautious yet sustained investment strategies in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Africa, for its part, stands to gain from new capital flows and technology transfers, particularly as Western aid recedes. Japan’s continued commitment to development aid—unlike the U.S. or UK—gives it soft-power leverage, while its private-sector entry signals a longer-term economic shift.

Economy

Finance

Japan

FDI

Foreign Investments

First Quantum Minerals