Chairman Receives Japanese Ambassador at Red Sea World

The Chairman received at Red Sea World H.E. Okochi Akihiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Djibouti.

The discussions focused on the growing interest of Japanese business companies, with a delegation expected to visit Djibouti in February. These investors have expressed strong interest in establishing operations within the free zones, in order to fully benefit from the trade and investment opportunities offered by Djibouti as a strategic gateway to regional and continental markets.

Djibouti’s position provides direct access to the COMESA market, representing more than 600 million consumers, as well as to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which currently covers a market of 1.3 billion people and is projected to reach 2.5 billion consumers by 2050.

Chairman recalled that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe strongly encouraged Japanese investment in Africa and had committed a guarantee mechanism of USD 8 billion to mitigate investment risks on the continent.

The upcoming TICAD Summit will primarily focus on Japan’s economic reorientation toward increased investment and partnership with Africa.

Chairman thanked Japan for the financing of 21km Galafi-Daguirou road. Chairman emphasized that Djibouti is a highly favorable destination for investment and reiterated that Japanese investors, known for their expertise, should seize the opportunities offered by Djibouti.