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ABE Initiative: Africa Business Seminar and Networking Fair [Tsubame-Sanjo]

ABE Initiative: Africa Business Seminar and Networking Fair [Tsubame-Sanjo]

UNIDO ITPO Tokyo supported “Africa Business Seminar and Networking Fair” held in Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata on 15 October 2018.

After a series of successful events held in Tokyo and Kobe since the launch of ABE Initiative project under which the last batch of African students started their study in Japan last September, this time, “Africa Business Seminar and Networking Fair” was held in Tsubamesanjo, Niigata. The event was organized by Tsubamesanjo Regional Industries Promotion Center and facilitated interaction between local companies and ABE students.

Master’s Degree and Internship Program of African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) is a human development project by the government of Japan that offers opportunities for young entrepreneurs, business people, government officials, and academics from Africa to study in Master’s courses in Japanese universities, and experience internships at Japanese enterprises in order to acquire deep understanding of Japanese business and its custom on top of their professional expertise, which will enable them to bridge Africa and Japan for future business. 27 ABE students from 19 countries took part in this event in Tsubamesanjo.

At the seminar, Prof. Seiichiro Yonekura, Institute of Innovation Research of Hitotsubashi University, affirmed that ABE initiative project plays a significant role in business partnership between Japan and Africa, simply by making more fans of Japan in Africa, which is a basis of any relationships. He continued that doing business in Africa will bring about a paradigm shift to Japanese companies and stimulate innovation. Then the floor was passed to Ms. Madoka Mori, Global Operations Division of Saraya Co., Ltd, which offers internship to ABE students. She presented their business in Uganda and about her Ugandan colleague, one of the ABE alumni who studied in Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University for 2 years under the ABE Initiative scheme. Mr. Kenji Fukuoka, Director, Vice President of Kobe Institute of Computing (KIC), Graduate School of Information Technology where more than 100 ABE students from 27 countries has studied, and Mr. Samuel Imanishimwe, former Communication Officer of Rwanda Embassy in Japan joined the panel session and answered questions from the audience.

During the networking session, the students visited a variety of company booths where unique products were showcased. This occasion helped the students deepen their understanding of technologies and service owned by local companies in the area, and it was a good opportunity for the company side to interact with African students and discuss business opportunities in Africa.

Outline

Date/Time: 15 October 2018 (Monday), 13:00-18:30  

Venue: 6F/7F, Research Core, TSUBAMESANJO Regional Industries Promotion Centre

Organizers: TSUBAMESANJO Regional Industries Promotion Centre, JETRO Niigata,
                    Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
                    Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE)

Co-organizers:  Sanjo Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
                         Tsubame Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
                         Tsubame-Sanjo External Trade Organization, The Daishi Bank,
                         The Hokuetsu Bank, Ltd., Sanjo Shinkin Bank

Supporter: UNIDO ITPO Tokyo