• Japan will launch RISE+, a new $20 million facility to support critical minerals supply chains in developing countries.
• The World Bank Group and Japan will use DRIVE to strengthen energy resilience and crisis preparedness across affected economies.
• The initiatives aim to turn demand for clean energy inputs into investment, industrial development, and quality jobs.

World Bank And Japan Deepen Supply Chain Cooperation

Washington, D.C. and Tokyo are tightening their partnership on critical minerals, energy security, and supply chain resilience as developing economies face rising pressure from volatile fuel markets and growing clean energy demand.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Japan’s Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama agreed to expand cooperation on helping developing countries build more resilient supply chains and energy systems. The partnership aims to unlock investment, support job creation, and strengthen long-term economic growth.

The two leaders signed a document launching the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement Plus facility, known as RISE+. They also agreed on a new framework called Dynamic Response for Invigorating Value Chains and Energy Security, or DRIVE.

Together, the initiatives extend Japan’s existing partnerships with the World Bank Group on critical minerals and regional energy security. They also place supply chain stability at the center of development finance, industrial policy, and climate strategy.

Japan Launches $20 Million RISE+ Facility

Japan will launch RISE+ as a new $20 million facility under its single-donor trust funds. The facility will complement the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-Chain Enhancement Partnership, which Japan launched under its G7 presidency in 2023.

RISE+ will help developing nations respond to rising demand for critical minerals, including rare earths. These materials are central to clean energy infrastructure, electric mobility, digital systems, and advanced manufacturing.

The facility will focus on translating resource potential into public and private investment. It will also support infrastructure development, private capital mobilization, industrial development, and quality jobs.

For resource-rich countries, the challenge is not only extraction. Governments must build institutions, logistics, standards, and investment pipelines that allow mineral wealth to create lasting economic value.

RISE+ is designed to coordinate public and private sector action. That matters for investors, because critical minerals projects often require long lead times, stable policy, and credible local partnerships.

The initiative also aligns with Country Compacts, which are designed to support more structured development priorities. That link gives the program a stronger governance lens, especially for countries trying to connect mineral development with jobs and industrial growth.

DRIVE Targets Energy Security And Crisis Preparedness

The second initiative, DRIVE, will focus on energy resilience. It complements POWERR Asia, Japan’s $10 billion framework to address fuel supply shortages and supply chain disruptions in Asia linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

Through DRIVE, the World Bank Group will work with Japanese government agencies, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The goal is to help affected countries stabilize their economies and build more resilient energy systems.

Support will include sovereign lending and private sector solutions. The partnership will also provide analysis and technical assistance.

The focus areas include supply chain management, crisis preparedness, and regional energy security. DRIVE will also help vulnerable countries pool their purchasing power to secure timely access to critical supplies.

That approach reflects a broader shift in energy governance. Fuel security, mineral access, and clean energy deployment are no longer separate policy tracks. They now sit inside the same risk framework for governments, lenders, and corporate buyers.

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Leaders Frame Minerals And Energy As Growth Priorities

“We appreciate Japan’s leadership in enhancing critical minerals supply chain resilience through RISE+ and strengthening energy security through POWERR Asia” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group. “These initiatives will help countries turn growing demand for clean energy and critical minerals into investment, jobs, and economic opportunity that improve lives across developing economies.”

Katayama Satsuki, Japan’s Minister of Finance said, “Critical mineral supply chain diversification through RISE+, and promotion of resilient regional supply chains and energy transition in the Asia-Pacific through DRIVE are both win-win policies that contribute not only to the creation of high-quality jobs and sustainable economic growth in developing countries, but also to helping ensure stable supply for importing countries, including Japan. I welcome the opportunity to leverage the World Bank Group’s expertise and policy tools in advancing these initiatives.”

What Executives And Investors Should Watch

For companies, the partnership points to a more active role for development finance in securing clean energy supply chains. It also shows how Japan is using public finance, multilateral tools, and regional frameworks to reduce exposure to supply disruptions.

For investors, RISE+ could help move critical minerals projects closer to bankability in developing markets. Stronger policy support, technical assistance, and public sector coordination may reduce execution risk.

For governments, DRIVE adds another layer to energy security planning. It links crisis response with long-term resilience, rather than treating fuel shortages as temporary shocks.

The wider significance is clear. Critical minerals and energy resilience are becoming strategic pillars of sustainable growth. For developing countries, the opportunity is to move beyond raw material exports and build deeper value chains. For importing economies, the priority is stable supply. The World Bank Group and Japan are betting those goals can advance together.

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