Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), TradeWaltz Inc., and Suzuki Motor Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on enhancing the automobile trade between India and Africa. The signing was announced on the occasion of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), currently being held in Yokohama.
The three companies will collaborate to address the current operational challenges in transporting automobiles between these two regions. Their work will focus on identifying potential solutions, particularly through digitalization and the promotion of decarbonization efforts within the trade process.
This joint effort recognizes the importance of the “Japan–India Cooperation Initiative for Sustainable Economic Development in Africa,” which was launched at the Japan–India–Africa Business Forum in February 2025. By leveraging their individual strengths and finding synergies between their businesses in India and Africa, the three partners aim to contribute to the economic development of both regions.
The announcement of this MOU at TICAD 9 represents a concrete first step toward establishing a robust supply chain and strengthening the economic connectivity between the enormous, growing markets of India and Africa. Moving forward, MOL, TradeWaltz, and Suzuki stated they will continue to embody the spirit of TICAD through their initiatives, working together to achieve shared growth in the regions by developing a resilient automobile supply chain.
