JAPAN and the WORLD Magazine JANUARY ISSUE 2016 #Issue 14 | Page 54
DJIBOUTI SEMINAR
NEWS
DJIBOUTI’S INNOVATIVE BUSINESS APPROACH
In order to support the rapid development of
the Djibouti Free Trade Zone, the government
is offering a very attractive package for investors.
For instance, the zone is duty free and there is
no corporate tax to pay. It permits 100% of
repatriation of capital and profit with no currency
restriction. It also allows 100% ownership with
no limitation on foreign personnel employment.
The country is now embarked in rapid
transformation with major infrastructure
development projects underway and valued over
US$ 12 billion. The latest was the completion
of a 752-kilometre railway linking the port of
Djibouti with landlocked Ethiopia’s capital Addis
Ababa. Both countries benefit from economic
integration, with Ethiopia gaining access to the
sea and Djibouti gaining access to Ethiopia’s
emerging market of 95 million people.
JAPANESE BUSINESS PRESENCE IN DJIBOUTI
Djibouti is gaining attention on the radar screen
of business leaders in Japan. According to Mr.
Koji Yamaguchi, president of GJK International,
who has previous business activities in Africa,
“to find the right place of operations in Africa is
a crucial decision.”
Welcome to Djibouti Free Trade Zone - Done Deal!
Mr. Abubaker Omar Hadi, President of Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority
and Mr. Koji Yamaguchi, President of New World Japan.
JAPAN’S GROWING PRESENCE IN
DJIBOUTI’S FREE TRADE ZONE
ジブチのフリートレードゾーンに注目-日本のプレゼンス拡大
More than 170 Japanese investors and
business people attended a seminar on
investment opportunities in Djibouti. The
event, held last December in the premises
of JETRO in Tokyo, was described as a
“great success” by Mr. Abubaker Omar
Hadi, chairman of the Port Authority and
Djibouti Free Zone. “Beside expressing
interest, he said, participants are asking
questions related to manpower, the costs
of energy and the benefits in joining the
Free Trade Zone”.
ジブチへの投資の機会に関するセミナーが
昨年12月に開かれ、
日本の投資家や経済界
の代表ら170人以上が参加した。都内のジェ
トロ本部で行われたこのセミナーについて
ジブチ・港湾委員会・フリートレードゾーンの
Abubaker Omar Hadi 長官は「大成功」だった
と指摘した。同長官は「参加者は関心を示すだ
けでなく、
マンパワー、
エネルギーコスト、
フリー
トレードゾーン利用の利点などについて質問
を行った」
と述べた。
53 // JANUARY 2016
H
is team has put together a very
impressive presentation and
provided detailed information
in Japanese to outline Djibouti’s
President, H.E. Mr. Ismail Omar
Guelleh economic vision, for a small country
of one million inhabitants, which is located
in an exceptional geostrategic location, in
the Horn of Africa, with more than 65% of
the world commercial shipping fleet using its
waters.
Last December, he flew to Djibouti with his
business partners to establish a new company
called “Japan New World Corporation”. From
this experience, he sai d that “he was impressed
by the efficiency and how easy it was to register a
company in Djibouti’s Free Trade Zone.” He used
the One Stop Service whose objective is to provide
all the necessary information (procedures & fees)
concerning all the administrative issues such
as visas, work permits, residence permits, and
conversion of driving license etc.–all of that done
within 48 to 72 hours.
According to Mr. Yamaguchi, “it is just amazing
to complete the whole registration process
within 48 hours only, including the legal
paperwork to incorporate the company in the
Free Trade Zone, to open up a bank account and
to conclude a leasing agreement for an office and
warehouse facilities.” He mentions humorously
that his business associates didn’t expect to have
free time to relax before returning to Japan.
LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REGION
A panel of discussion followed with Japanese
business leaders sharing their views on
Djibouti. Each of them, active in different
sectors, recognizes the potential of increasing
its activities and access to new markets in the
East Africa region. In fact, Djibouti is well
positioned within the 20 states sharing a free
trade area in the Common Market for Easter
and Southern Africa (COMESA). Having
countries in the region with high growth
rate, the demand for new technologies and
manufacturing products is on the rise. Because
of its location, Djibouti’s officials suggest that
the presence of Japanese companies in the
Free Trade Zone is a strategic move.
The newly created New World Japan Corp. has
business relations with a major partner, Toray
Corporation, a Japanese multinational that
specializes in industrial products centered on
technologies in organic synthetic chemistry.
According to Mr. Masahiro Fujita, Toray Corp’s
representative, “East Africa offers business
opportunities in various sectors” For instance, his
company is looking for opportunities in the filed of
medical equipment and water treatment facilities.
While being the president of the latest Japanese
company to join Djibouti’s Free Trade Zone,
Mr. Yamaguchi is aware of the networking
JAPAN AND THE WORLD MAGAZINE