Representatives from the Japanese embassies in 20 African countries will gather on Tuesday and Wednesday in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. The Foreign Ministry says the meeting will be the first of its kind.

The participants will discuss what specific assistance they can extend to Japanese firms trying to do business in Africa.

Some African countries are politically unstable and tensions often exist between ethnic groups in those countries. Thus, building ties with influential government figures is deemed crucial for firms wishing to operate on the continent.
The Japanese diplomatic missions have long been reluctant to directly support private firms.

Japan is now lagging behind China in securing drilling rights for oil and mineral resources in Africa. Last year, China acquired the rights for large-scale copper and cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Chinese government is known to be working aggressively to acquire such rights in Africa by working jointly with the private sector.

Ministry officials say Japan's advanced technology and investment, when aligned with the needs of African countries, will generate meaningful results for all the parties.