Of the 74 countries that have announced participation in GREEN×EXPO 2027 (the 2027 International Horticultural Expo in Yokohama, Kamiseya, 19 March to 26 September 2027), 36 are in Africa. Using this site’s regional grouping, based on the United Nations statistical division of regions, Central Africa comprises seven countries: Republic of Angola, Republic of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Specific exhibit details have not been announced for any of the seven countries as of September 2026. So, using the main industries and trade items in MOFA’s basic data as a guide, we set out country by country what each grows and what Japan imports.
In the main trade items of MOFA’s basic data, oil or minerals head the export list for most countries in this region, but looking at the “main industries”, “main trade items” and “economic relations” fields, how far farm products are listed varies by country.
| Country | Signing | Crops and plants in MOFA’s basic data | What Japan imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Angola | Signing date not made public (Association announced on 14 August 2026) | Cassava, banana, maize, sweet potato | Nothing plant-based listed (diamonds, aluminium, octopus, among others) |
| Republic of Cameroon | 29 May 2026 | Cocoa, fruit and nuts | Cocoa (2025) |
| Central African Republic | 30 June 2026 | Cotton, coffee, tobacco (timber under forestry) | Timber (2024) |
| Republic of Chad | 27 February 2026 | Cotton, among others | Plant-based raw materials and cotton, among others (2024) |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 29 May 2026 | Palm oil, cotton, coffee, timber, natural rubber, among others | Coffee, timber (2024) |
| Republic of Equatorial Guinea | Announced participation only | No farm products listed (main industries are only mining: oil and liquefied natural gas; timber appears among main trade items) | Not listed (2025 imports were liquefied natural gas only) |
| Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe | 30 June 2026 | Cocoa beans | Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices (2024) |
Two countries where cotton heads the agriculture entry
Central African Republic and Republic of Chad both have cotton listed first under agriculture in the main industries of their basic data. Democratic Republic of the Congo’s entry also includes cotton, but after palm oil.
Central African Republic
According to MOFA’s basic data for Central African Republic, the area is 623,000 square kilometres, about 1.7 times the size of Japan. Main industries include cotton, coffee and tobacco under agriculture, and timber under forestry. In 2024 trade with Japan, what Japan imported was timber, among other items (Ministry of Finance trade statistics). It signed an official participation contract on 30 June 2026.
Republic of Chad
Desert covers about two-thirds of Republic of Chad’s land area (according to MOFA’s basic data). Main industries are agriculture (cotton, among others), livestock farming and crude oil production. In 2024 trade with Japan, Chad’s export items to Japan included plant-based raw materials and cotton, among others (Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The area is 1.284 million square kilometres, about 3.4 times the size of Japan. It signed an official participation contract on 27 February 2026.
Two countries where cocoa is listed among the main industries
Republic of Cameroon and Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe are countries where cocoa appears among the main industries in the basic data.
Republic of Cameroon
Cameroon’s main industries include cocoa and fruit and nuts under agriculture. In 2025 trade with Japan too, Cameroon’s export items to Japan included cocoa alongside aluminium (Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Yaoundé. It signed an official participation contract on 29 May 2026.
Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe’s only main industry is agriculture (cocoa beans, among others). In 2024 trade with Japan, São Tomé’s export items to Japan are grouped under food products as coffee, tea, cocoa and spices (Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The area is 1,001 square kilometres, about half the size of Tokyo. It signed an official participation contract on 30 June 2026.
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Three countries where minerals dominate but farm-product listings vary
Republic of Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of Equatorial Guinea all have oil or minerals at the centre of their exports. But the items listed under agriculture in the basic data vary by country.
Republic of Angola
Republic of Angola has an area of 1.247 million square kilometres, about 3.3 times the size of Japan. The basic data’s main industries list oil and gas under mining, and cassava, banana, maize and sweet potato under agriculture. However, what Japan imported in 2024 trade with Japan was diamonds, aluminium and octopus, among others, with nothing plant-based listed (Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The Association announced the signing of an official participation contract on 14 August 2026.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo’s main industries list palm oil, cotton, coffee, timber and natural rubber under agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and copper and cobalt under mining and energy. In 2024 trade with Japan, Japan’s import items included coffee and timber alongside copper and seafood (Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Kinshasa. It signed an official participation contract on 29 May 2026.
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Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Republic of Equatorial Guinea’s main industries field in the basic data lists only mining (oil, liquefied natural gas); no farm products are listed. Timber does appear among the main trade items, but what Japan imported in 2025 trade with Japan was liquefied natural gas only (Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The area is 28,051 square kilometres, about 1.5 times Shikoku. It has announced participation, but as of October 2026, no signing of an official participation contract has been announced.
We cover Africa’s other participating countries separately: four in North Africa, nine in West Africa, seven in the northern part of East Africa, and nine in the Indian Ocean island nations and Southern Africa. To check each country’s signing date, capital, population and language, see our two country-by-country guides, “Africa (1), Angola to Seychelles” and “Africa (2)”.