Handing Foreign Minister Iwaya Policy Recommendations on Japan-Africa Partnerships Ahead of TICAD 9 (2)

 

Before my meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on July 25 to hand him a set of recommendations on the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) to be held on August 20-22, I went to Hakone, a spa resort west of Tokyo, on July 23 to attend the two-day “Eminent Persons Meeting on Sustainable Development and International Cooperation in Africa” with former African heads of state and other prominent figures.

At the meeting, co-hosted by The Nippon Foundation, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) and the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), we drew upon their insights and experience to strengthen Japan-Africa cooperation on critical issues such as food security and a sustainable blue economy, especially how best we should carry out our recommendations presented to the minister and TICAD 9.

Taking part were: Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Mr. Jorge Carlos Fonseca, former president of the Republic of Cabo Verde; Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former president of the United Republic of Tanzania; Dr. Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki, former prime minister of the Republic of Niger; Dr. Geraldine Fraser-Moloketi, former South African minister of public service and administration; and Dr. Donald Kaberuka, former president of the African Development Bank.

After coming back to Tokyo, we held an international symposium on July 25, 

just after our meeting with Foreign Minister Iwaya, to have those African dignitaries provide Japanese business leaders, experts and other stakeholders with valuable input for TICAD 9.

TICAD 9 to be held in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on August 20-22 will bring together leaders and other senior officials of 54 African nations as well as those from the United Nations, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission (AUC),which will co-host the conference with the Japanese government.

On the first day of TICAD 9 on August 20, the SPF will host a side event under the theme of “Building Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems and Local Economies in Africa anchored in Sustainable Blue Economies and Agriculture.”

It will be joined by heads of state of five African countries－Dr. William Samoei Ruto, president of the Republic of Kenya, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, president of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, president of the Republic of South Africa, Ms. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, president of the Republic of Namibia, and Mr. José Maria Neves, president of the Republic of Cabo Verde－as well as a Japanese government leader to be announced.

I look forward to meeting with these leaders and other participants to explore how best Japan and African countries should further cement their partnerships with a view to enhancing food security and promoting a blue economy focused on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, alongside improvements in agricultural production.

The Nippon Foundation, the SPF and SAA, for all of which I serve as honorary chair, are determined to redouble our efforts to further solidify Japan-Africa partnerships building upon the discussion at TICAD 9 meetings.

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