African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah has successfully concluded his first official visit to Japan since assuming office in September. The three-day visit reinforced a commitment to strengthen ties between the African Development Bank Group and Japan, with a shared vision of advancing sustainable growth, innovation, and inclusive prosperity across the continent.
The Bank Group president held bilateral meetings with senior officials from the Japan government, including Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, as well as representatives from key development and financial institutions such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), and the KEIZAI DOYUKAI (Japan Association of Corporate Executives).
He also engaged with the African diplomatic corps in Tokyo, the Nippon Foundation, the Sasakawa Africa Association, and other prominent private sector stakeholders, to discuss opportunities for enhanced cooperation.
A central focus of Dr Ould Tah's visit was mobilizing Japanese financing and guarantees for African capital markets through private-sector channels, including commercial banks insurers, and trading firms as well as through the government, Development Finance Institutions and export-credit agencies.
Building on the momentum of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held in Yokohama in August 2025, the visit underscored Japan and Africa's joint efforts to translate high-level commitments into concrete, fundable investment opportunities that promote public-private partnerships, empower youth and women, and accelerate regional integration and connectivity.
Japan's longstanding partnership with the African Development Bank Group, particularly through the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa (EPSA) initiative and its trust fund, Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), continues to play a pivotal role in supporting private-sector development in Africa. Under the EPSA initiative, the Bank Group and JICA have committed to a joint financing target of up to USD 5.5 billion for the 2026-2028 period.
Japan's Policy and Human Resource Development Grant (PHRDG) trust fund has supported over 110 projects since 1994, contributing more than $36 million in human-resource and capacity development. Through this program, the Bank Group has fostered Japanese-African partnerships in academia, industry, and technical training, strengthening the continent's foundation for sustainable growth
On 14 November, alongside Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, and Dr Teruo Fujii, President of The University of Tokyo, Dr Ould Tah attended the official roll out of the Africa-Asia (A-A) Platform initiative, dedicated to the promotion of knowledge transfer between Africa and Asia.
The visit also highlighted the critical role of Japanese technology, expertise, and financing in supporting Africa's sustainable development, green growth, and digital transformation. Dr Ould Tah emphasized the importance of leveraging both public and private partnerships to unlock investment opportunities, strengthen institutional collaboration, and accelerate Africa's economic transformation.
Reflecting on the visit, Dr Ould Tah stated:
"Japan has consistently demonstrated its steadfast partnership with Africa. My first official visit as president has been an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to building a more sustainable, innovative, and prosperous future. Together, we will deepen cooperation that delivers tangible impact for African people."
Dr Ould Tah concluded his visit with a reinforced commitment to advancing the Africa-Japan partnership, leveraging collaboration with government agencies, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector, to support Africa's sustainable development and inclusive growth.
To learn more about the partnership between the African Development Bank Group and Japan, click here.
