Forum seeks to boost SA, Japan trade relations
Japan and African countries will for the next two days, look for ways to strengthen their trade relations.
More than 700 business executives and high level ministers will gather for the very first ever Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum. The event will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
More than 100 dignitaries from Japan are expected at the event.
This comes on the heels of the India- South Africa business summit that was hosted last week.
Trade relations between the two countries go back over 50 years.
Japan began actively trading with South Africa for natural resources since the 1960s, despite international sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid government.
Its investments into South Africa are mostly in the automotive sector, metals and chemicals.
The business summit forms part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s drive to attract $100 billion in new investment as he seeks to kick start the struggling economy.
Government has pledged to create jobs and reduce poverty through various economic interventions.