Japanese shipowner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tokyo-based TradeWaltz Inc. and Suzuki Motor Corporation to boost automobile trade between India and Africa.
The MoU was announced at ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), being held in Yokohama.
The three companies will cooperate in identifying challenges in trade operations regarding automobile transportation between India and Africa, and exploring potential solutions including digitalization and promoting decarbonization, they said in a joint statement.
MOL is currently expanding automobile transport services from India to Africa, where demand is rising rapidly.
TradeWaltz conducted a market study on trade digitalization in Kenya in 2024 as part of the ministry of economy, trade and industry (METI)’s “AfDX,” and in India in 2025 under METI’s Global South Fund Master Plan Development Project.
On the other hand, Suzuki supports the mobility of people in Africa through providing Indian-made compact cars and other products.
The collaboration aims to establish a robust automobile supply chain between India and Africa, and to contribute to the regions’ economic development.
