Sasakawa Peace Foundation Hosts High-Level Event, Highlighting Africa’s Food Security, the Blue Economy (1)

I went to Yokohama, a port city south of Tokyo, for three days from August 20 to attend side events and other meetings during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).

Co-hosted by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) and the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), the official side event on August 20 brought together Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, African heads of state/government and ministers, representatives of international organizations and researchers.

The participants actively discussed the current challenges and potential opportunities for collaboration between Japan and Africa under the theme of “Building Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Food Systems and Local Economies in Africa: Perspectives from the Blue Economy and Agriculture.” 

Among African participants were Dr. William Ruto, president of Kenya; Dr. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, prime minister of Cabo Verde; Mr. Elijah Ngurare, prime minister of Namibia; and Mr. Soares Sambú, Guinea-Bissau's minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration. 

Showcasing examples of initiatives aimed at achieving food security and sustainable growth through agriculture and the blue economy, they emphasized the importance of cooperation with Japan, highlighting their views on a strategic priority on agriculture and the blue economy, which refers to sustainable economic activities associated with the seas and oceans.

In his address, Prime Minister Ishiba stated: “Improving agricultural productivity is still a major issue for Africa, and against that backdrop, I believe that the question of how to build sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems, the theme of this event, is critically significant.”

Noting a blue economy approach utilizing the resources of Africa's marine areas may also serve as a key to improving the food supply, he said: “Japan has expertise in such areas as aquaculture and data management that harnesses the power of digital technologies. Japanese institutions and organizations have been making contributions over the years in areas such as promoting sustainable fishery and aquaculture industries in Africa and combating illegal fishing. The Sasakawa Peace Foundation is one highly distinguished example that is engaged in such efforts.”

“Let us work to advance a wide range of efforts and cooperation so as to contribute to the strengthening of Africa's agrifood systems, leading to a future in which more people can live their lives with a sense of security,” the prime minister said.

(To be continued)