As of September 2026, 74 countries and five international organisations have announced participation in GREEN×EXPO 2027 (the 2027 International Horticultural Expo in Yokohama; Kamiseya, 19 March to 26 September 2027). Africa has the largest number of any region, with 36 countries. Specific exhibit details have not been announced for any of them, as of September 2026.
The grouping of countries and regions here is our own, based on the regional divisions used in United Nations statistics. Of the UN’s Eastern Africa region, 13 countries have announced participation. Because there are so many, we have split them on this site into a northern group of seven and a southern group of six; Southern Africa’s three countries are covered in the same article as the southern group. The northern seven are Republic of Uganda, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Djibouti, Federal Republic of Somalia and Republic of South Sudan. Geographically they range from inland East Africa to the Horn of Africa.
Our starting point is the crops, exports and Japan’s imports listed for each country in MOFA’s basic data. Since this is a horticultural expo, we look first at these seven countries through their plants and produce.
| Country | Signing | Crops and plants in MOFA’s basic data | What Japan imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Uganda | Announced participation only | Not listed (main industry is agriculture, forestry and fisheries, etc., no crop names; trade items include gold, coffee, cacao beans) | Coffee, vegetable raw materials, crude minerals, etc. |
| Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | 30 June 2026 | Coffee, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, khat, cut flowers | Coffee, oilseeds, etc. |
| Republic of Kenya | 21 August 2025 | Coffee, tea, horticultural crops, sisal, cotton, maize, pyrethrum | Cut flowers, tea, coffee, nuts |
| Republic of Burundi | 9 May 2026 | Coffee, tea | Coffee, tea |
| Republic of Djibouti | 5 June 2026 | Not listed (main industry is transport; trade items include palm oil, sunflower oil, rice, sugar) | Seafood |
| Federal Republic of Somalia | Announced participation only | Sorghum, maize, rice, beans, sesame (livestock farming is also a main industry) | Seafood, animal fats and oils |
| Republic of South Sudan | 28 May 2026 | Not listed (main industries include agriculture, but no crop names; trade items are only crude oil, etc. and vehicles, etc.) | Crude oil, etc. |
Countries where coffee and tea lead: Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi
Republic of Uganda
MOFA’s basic data lists the main industries as “agriculture, forestry and fisheries, manufacturing and construction, services, etc.”, with no specific crop names given. Trade items (2023, World Bank) include gold, coffee and cacao beans. Japan imports coffee, vegetable raw materials and crude minerals, among other things (2024, Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Kampala, and the area is 241,000 square kilometres (197,000 square kilometres of land), which MOFA describes as about the size of Honshu. Uganda has only announced participation; as of September 2026 it had not signed an official participation contract.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Signed an official participation contract on 30 June 2026. MOFA’s basic data lists the main industry as agriculture, including grains, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane and potatoes, as well as khat, an evergreen broadleaf shrub native to Ethiopia, and cut flowers. Export trade items (2022, World Bank) are coffee, gold, cut flowers and khat. Japan imports coffee and oilseeds, among other things (2024, Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Addis Ababa.
Republic of Kenya
Signed an official participation contract on 21 August 2025. MOFA’s basic data lists the main industry (agriculture) as including coffee, tea, horticultural crops, sisal, cotton, maize and pyrethrum. Tea and horticultural crops are also among the top export trade items (2022, World Bank). Japan imports cut flowers, tea, coffee and nuts (2024, Ministry of Finance statistics). The capital is Nairobi.
Republic of Burundi
Signed an official participation contract on 9 May 2026. MOFA’s basic data lists the main industry as agriculture, with coffee and tea named. Export trade items (2022, World Bank) include coffee, gold, tea and tobacco, among others. Japan imports coffee and tea (2025, Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Gitega, and Bujumbura is the economic centre.
Countries where ports, livestock and crude oil lead: Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan
Republic of Djibouti
Signed an official participation contract on 5 June 2026. MOFA’s basic data lists the main industry as transport (Djibouti port services, Djibouti railways), with no mention of agriculture. Trade items (2022, World Bank) include palm oil, sunflower seeds and oil, sugar and rice, appearing on both the export and import sides. Japan imports seafood from Djibouti (2024, Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Djibouti.
Federal Republic of Somalia
Somalia has only announced participation; as of September 2026 it had not signed an official participation contract. MOFA’s basic data lists the main industries as livestock farming (camels, sheep, goats, cattle, etc.) and agriculture (sorghum, maize, rice, beans, sesame, etc.). Export trade items (2023, OEC) are gold and livestock. Japan imports seafood and animal fats and oils (2024, Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Mogadishu, and the population is 19.65 million (2025, World Bank).
Republic of South Sudan
Signed an official participation contract on 28 May 2026. MOFA’s basic data lists the main industries as crude oil, agriculture, forestry, livestock farming and fisheries, but gives no crop names. Trade items are also limited to crude oil, etc. for exports and vehicles, etc. for imports, with no farm products listed. Japan imports crude oil, etc. (2024, Ministry of Finance trade statistics). The capital is Juba.
There are four more articles built the same way: four countries in North Africa, nine countries in West Africa, seven countries in Central Africa, and nine countries across the Indian Ocean islands and Southern Africa. For every country’s signing date, capital, population and languages, see our two country-by-country guides, “Africa (1), Angola to Seychelles” and “Africa (2)”.