President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Japan on Tuesday with a high level delegation to participate in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development Summit (TICAD9), where he will pursue bilateral economic engagements with the Japanese government, with a view to strengthening trade and investment ties between both countries.

TICAD9 convenes in Yokohama between Wednesday and Friday under the theme ‘Co-creating innovative solutions with Africa’.

A high level South African business delegation is also expected to participate in TICAD9.

Ramaphosa is hoping to advance South Africa’s G20 agenda at the summit, when he meets with Japanese industry leaders and business.

The Presidency noted that TICAD9 takes place during “unprecedented threats” to global peace and security, ongoing conflicts, distortions and disruption to global trade and a “concerning revision” by some States of unilateral action at a time when the Presidency says multilateralism and collective solutions to common challenges are crucial.

“Rising fuel, food and energy prices have severely impacted developing countries, entrenching poverty and fuelling higher levels of inequality in the face of constrained employment and job opportunities.

“The debt and liquidity crisis on the African continent is worsening the challenging socio-economic environment and constraining the fiscal space for governments to cast a safety net over its citizens,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya.

Japan is one of South Africa's major economic partners with sizeable investments in the South African economy, and Magwenya said the potential for further investment existed.

“Japan is one of the major investors, with over R90-billion in the South African economy, with 260 Japanese companies, sustaining over 150 000 local jobs. Japan is the fourth largest economy in the world, and total bilateral trade between the two countries in 2024 was R132-billion, with South Africa recording a trade surplus of R52-billion,” he pointed out.

Magwenya said Africa Union discussions with the Japanese government during TICAD9 presents an opportunity for collective solutions to these challenges.

2025 marks 115 years of relations between South Africa and Japan.

Bilateral trade between Japan and South Africa had been expanding since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992, said Magwenya.

In his capacity as the chair of the Global Leader’s Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address to parliamentarians, business and developmental agencies on the importance of increasing investment into women’s, children’s and adolescents health as an imperative for peace and security.

Ramaphosa is accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Bonginkosi Nzimande, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla and other senior government officials.