Core Viewpoint - Japan aims to strengthen economic cooperation with Africa by establishing a preparatory committee for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with African countries, focusing on enhancing the business environment for Japanese enterprises in Africa [2][4]. Group 1: Economic Cooperation Initiatives - The Japanese government plans to form a preparatory committee for economic cooperation with Africa, which will include private enterprises and experts to assess the effectiveness and challenges of such cooperation [4]. - Japan has not yet signed any FTAs or Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African countries, but aims to start with key nations like Kenya and eventually expand to the entire continent [4]. Group 2: Strategic Goals - Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan's desire to be a solid bridge connecting Africa with regions outside of Africa, emphasizing the importance of digital industries and the nurturing of startups as foundational elements for accelerating economic growth [4]. - The initiative also includes the "Indian Ocean-Africa Economic Circle Initiative," which aims to build a logistics network with India and Middle Eastern countries [5].