Emirati ports operator DP World has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Itochu Corporation, a major Japanese trading company, aiming to enhance logistics, supply chain infrastructure, and distribution across sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement was formalised at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, in a ceremony attended by Beat Simon, Group CEO for Logistics at DP World.
UAE news agency WAM reports that the partnership will focus on improving connectivity and market access throughout Africa, particularly to assist Japanese businesses looking to establish or expand their operations on the continent.
Early discussions centre around fleet management, logistics operations, optimising supply chains, and distributing commodities and food products.
DP World currently operates in 48 African countries, managing an extensive network that includes ports, terminals, warehouses and trucks. The company has invested over $3 billion in regional infrastructure and plans to invest an additional $3bn within the next three to five years.
Itochu, based in Tokyo, brings decades of experience in commodities, wholesale trade, and consumer goods across Africa. Its diverse portfolio covers textiles, machinery, energy, chemicals, food products and general consumer goods, positioning it well to support Japanese companies expanding into Africa.
Simon highlighted Africa as a rapidly growing frontier for global trade, emphasising that the collaboration with Itochu aligned with their shared goal to combine infrastructure and logistics expertise with commercial experience to forge stronger connections between Africa and Japan.
Shinya Ishizuka, CEO of Africa Bloc at Itochu Corporation, expressed hope that the collaboration would not only foster further joint projects but also bridge Japanese companies with the African market.
