As the invigoration of Japan’s business transactions with developing countries greatly contributes to private sector-led economic development in these countries and allows Japan to benefit from the growth of these countries and help vitalize innovation as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, the Japanese government has created and expanded various policy measures, systems and schemes that are implemented by public organizations like JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), JICA, JBIC and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan for supporting business transactions with developing countries. While most of them are used for Asian developing countries, they are growingly being applied to business transactions with Africa.

This section will invite government/public sector people to proactively introduce these schemes and will provide information about Africa-related business activities subject to these schemes.

Overview

There are mainly 3 types of systems and schemes related to African business support; 1) overseas expansion support for enterprises, 2) Support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for Japanese enterprises and 3) Public-private schemes engaged with development aid.

To facilitate international trade between Japan and foreign countries and support overseas business of Japanese enterprises, JBIC provide financial service such as loans and investments, JOGMEC provide loans and investments for Japanese enterprises engaged in resources development and NEXI provide trade insurances.

Support overseas expansion of Japanese enterprises

To facilitate assistance to SMEs expanding into overseas markets, the Conference on Supporting SMEs in Overseas Business was established in October 2010 by bringing together government officials and support institutions, such as related government organizations, SME associations and financial institutions, with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry serving as the chair.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry also developed “The Framework for Supporting SMEs in Overseas Business”(in Japanese) in 2011. Please contact Trade Policy Bureau Middle Eastern and African department for inquiry regarding support for African business.

Cooperated webpage of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Middle Eastern and African departmen

Information about policy measures, systems, and schemes for supporting SMEs in overseas business is summarized in a website of Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, “Supporting SMEs in Overseas Business” (in Japanese).

“Measures for Supporting SMEs in Overseas Business”(in Japanese) is published on the website. The document shows information about public agencies providing support and their support contents such as 1) Overseas information collection, 2) Advice for overseas extension, 3) Investigation and planning for commercialization, 4) Human resources development and recruiting of global and local subsidiary companies, 5) Development of overseas markets, 6) Product development and test marketing, 7) Fund-raising, 8) Risk management, 9) Intellectual property right and legal issue management and 10) Support before and after overseas expansion.

Information of government organizations supporting SMEs in overseas business is as following;

Cooperated webpage of JETRO

Cooperated webpage of SME Support,Japan

Support of Japan Finance Corporation (Micro and Small Businesses Unit) for overseas business

Some of these supports, despite they cover each area of overseas, might have not applied in Africa before. Also, some of these supports are not limited to SMEs.

Support from diplomatic establishments abroad for Japanese enterprises

In Africa, all diplomatic establishments abroad have “Business support service desk for Japanese enterprises” (in Japanese). Resident officers in charge are proactively giving advices and responding for support request.

Cooperated webpage of of NEXI