Among business areas in developing countries in which Japanese companies are expected to perform well is so-called BOP (bottom/base of the pyramid) business that serves poor people and the general public as consumers or beneficiaries. Japanese companies‟ participation or business launching in BOP business is expected to contribute to poverty reduction and improve living standards in these countries. Some Japanese people and companies have already participated in African BOP business. Focusing on the business’ developing Effectiveness, poverty reduction and creation of job opportunities, “Inclusive business” is also widely used.

Any parties launching BOP and other business operations in Africa may have to overcome a great number of challenges.However,business launching can lead to the creation of new goods and services required by society, bring about jobs and contribute to human resources development, technological advancement and tax revenue expansion. It can also provide successful models and trigger successive business launching, creating and expanding a positive cycle.

This section will post information on specific cases for Japanese people and companies launching BOP and other business operations in Africa, as voluntarily provided by these people and companies or third parties. Also, if there are any enterprise activities deeply involved in areas of supporting “Agriculture/Agriculture developing,” ” Medical services/Health care/ Nutrition Services,” ”Water/Environment,” and “Education/Human resource education” which are key areas of African development support, the activities will be introduced separately.

Overview report of Nomura Research Institute

Overview report of BPO business (Nomura Research Institute) (in Japanese)

UNDP’s report of Inclusive Business

『アフリカの富の実現　Realizing Africa’s Wealth  共栄のためのインクルーシブビジネスの構築　Building Inclusive Business for Shared Prosperity 』

Japanese version

English version

Activities of Japanese Enterprises

Kaneka Corporation “Keep China away by various ‘wigs’”  (in Japanese)

(Reprinted from Nikkei BP mook “African Business” (edited by Nikkei Business), issued on 5 September 2013)

Panasonic Corporation “Lighting and charger for unelectrified area, and deliver our brand” (in Japanese)

(Reprinted from Nikkei BP mook “African Business” (edited by Nikkei Business), issued on 5 September 2013)

PILOT Corporation “Challenge with 30 yen pens created by apartheid” (in Japanese)

(Reprinted from Nikkei BP mook “African Business” (edited by Nikkei Business), issued on 5 September 2013)

TAIYO INDUSTRY AFRICA INC. “Animation TV ‘ TAIYO channel’ in Nigeria”

(Coming soon)

Office 5 Taranto  “Honey fairtrade” (in Japanese)

(The International Development Journal” Issued in March 2012)

AMP　MUSIC　” From Kenyan slums to the world” (in Japanese)

(The International Development Journal” Issued in August 2012)