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Sambo, Japanese PM to
hold bilateral talks sunday
Sambo, Japanese PM to
hold bilateral talks sunday
In an unprecedented move to rescue Africa from the tenacious grip of
underdevelopment, Japan has announced a 3.2 trillion yen ($32 billion)
assistance package for Africa as part of its commitment to put the continent on
the path of growth.
Unveiling the package
in an address delivered on Saturday at the opening session of the Fifth Tokyo
International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), held at the Pacifico
Yokohama Conference Centre, the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe,
said,”Over the next five years, Japan will support African growth through
public and private means of 3.2 trillion yen (approximately $32 billion),
including ODA of around 1.4 trillion yen and other public and private resources
of around 16 billion dollars.”
in an address delivered on Saturday at the opening session of the Fifth Tokyo
International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), held at the Pacifico
Yokohama Conference Centre, the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe,
said,”Over the next five years, Japan will support African growth through
public and private means of 3.2 trillion yen (approximately $32 billion),
including ODA of around 1.4 trillion yen and other public and private resources
of around 16 billion dollars.”
In his address titled,
“The Africa that Joins in Partnership with Japan is Brighter Still,”
Abe also said Japan would would underwrite a maximum of $2 billion of trade
insurance.
“The Africa that Joins in Partnership with Japan is Brighter Still,”
Abe also said Japan would would underwrite a maximum of $2 billion of trade
insurance.
The package unveiled
by Abe included boosting economic growth (private sector development, trade and
investment, natural resources); accelerating infrastructure and capacity
development (infrastructure, human resource development, science and
technology, tourism); empowering farmers as mainstream economic actors
(agriculture, food and nutrition security); promoting sustainable and resilient
growth (environment, climate change, disaster prevention); and creating an
inclusive society for growth (education and gender, health, water and
sanitation).
by Abe included boosting economic growth (private sector development, trade and
investment, natural resources); accelerating infrastructure and capacity
development (infrastructure, human resource development, science and
technology, tourism); empowering farmers as mainstream economic actors
(agriculture, food and nutrition security); promoting sustainable and resilient
growth (environment, climate change, disaster prevention); and creating an
inclusive society for growth (education and gender, health, water and
sanitation).
On infrastructure, a
650 billion yen (approximately $6.5 billion) infrastructure investment over the
next five years, which he said would be allocated to developing the
infrastructure that “Africa itself deems necessary and plans itself.”
He said the infracstructure investment would focus on expediting the
development of international corridors that link inland areas with the coasts,
and power grids.
650 billion yen (approximately $6.5 billion) infrastructure investment over the
next five years, which he said would be allocated to developing the
infrastructure that “Africa itself deems necessary and plans itself.”
He said the infracstructure investment would focus on expediting the
development of international corridors that link inland areas with the coasts,
and power grids.
Announcing the Africa
Business Education (ABE) Initiative for the youth as part of human resource
development, Abe said Japan would help Africa foster 30 thousand
“business-savvy individuals”.
Business Education (ABE) Initiative for the youth as part of human resource
development, Abe said Japan would help Africa foster 30 thousand
“business-savvy individuals”.
Under this initiative,
he said: “We will offer undergraduate and graduate education to young
people from Africa who come to study in Japan, and in addition we will
simultaneously provide opportunities to work as interns at Japanese companies.
This will be at a scale of 1,000 students over five years.”
he said: “We will offer undergraduate and graduate education to young
people from Africa who come to study in Japan, and in addition we will
simultaneously provide opportunities to work as interns at Japanese companies.
This will be at a scale of 1,000 students over five years.”
“Together with
the ABE Initiative, over the next five years, we will set about cultivating
“business and industry savvy human capacities” that will lead to
employment for 30 thousand individuals, making use of the human resources
development already being implemented by JICA and by HIDA”.
the ABE Initiative, over the next five years, we will set about cultivating
“business and industry savvy human capacities” that will lead to
employment for 30 thousand individuals, making use of the human resources
development already being implemented by JICA and by HIDA”.
Expressing optimism
that Africa’s promising young people would soon play the leading roles in
businesses that connect Japan and the continent, he said it was necessary to
cultivate human resources that truly match labour market demand, adding that
haphazardly enhancing vocational training would not lead to jobs.
that Africa’s promising young people would soon play the leading roles in
businesses that connect Japan and the continent, he said it was necessary to
cultivate human resources that truly match labour market demand, adding that
haphazardly enhancing vocational training would not lead to jobs.
While advocating for
what he called “education with an exit,” the Japanese leader said his
country would aim at fostering the human resources needed by companies in the
local areas, particularly Japanese companies.
what he called “education with an exit,” the Japanese leader said his
country would aim at fostering the human resources needed by companies in the
local areas, particularly Japanese companies.
He said Japan would
also construct hubs for human resource development at 10 locations in the field
in Africa and send experts in vocational training to these hubs.
also construct hubs for human resource development at 10 locations in the field
in Africa and send experts in vocational training to these hubs.
In the area of health,
he said he would like to advance universal health coverage as part of Japan’s
diplomatic strategy through a true public-private partnership.
he said he would like to advance universal health coverage as part of Japan’s
diplomatic strategy through a true public-private partnership.
“In Japan we have
built up a system in which anyone can readily visit a hospital even for minor
health concerns. I would like to utilize Japan’s system and experiences in
Africa. We will promote health care that everyone can access – in other words,
“universal health coverage,” or “UHC,” he said.
built up a system in which anyone can readily visit a hospital even for minor
health concerns. I would like to utilize Japan’s system and experiences in
Africa. We will promote health care that everyone can access – in other words,
“universal health coverage,” or “UHC,” he said.
In the area of peace
and stability, he said Japan Self-Defence Forces were already making strenuous
efforts in Djibouti to assist with anti-piracy efforts and in South Sudan to
assist with nation-building.
and stability, he said Japan Self-Defence Forces were already making strenuous
efforts in Djibouti to assist with anti-piracy efforts and in South Sudan to
assist with nation-building.
The Japanese leader
also canvassed for what it called “a true partnership with Africa”
that involves “thinking together and working together” adding that
Japan and Africa had gone beyond being “good partners” to being more
like “co-managers.”
also canvassed for what it called “a true partnership with Africa”
that involves “thinking together and working together” adding that
Japan and Africa had gone beyond being “good partners” to being more
like “co-managers.”
“We are
colleagues and at the same time co-workers. We grow together through our mutual
interactions, and through this we have become partners that will bring growth
to the world”, he said.
colleagues and at the same time co-workers. We grow together through our mutual
interactions, and through this we have become partners that will bring growth
to the world”, he said.
Noting that the future
of Africa was bright, Abe said the future of Africa that joins in partnership
with Japan would be brighter.
of Africa was bright, Abe said the future of Africa that joins in partnership
with Japan would be brighter.
Meanwhile, Vice
President Namadi Sambo, who led Nigerian delegation to the TICAD conference in
Yakohama, will today hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe.
THISDAY gathered that Sambo would seek Japan’s support for Nigeria’s bid to
achieve stable power supply and agricultural development among other issues
during the bilateral talks between both leaders.
President Namadi Sambo, who led Nigerian delegation to the TICAD conference in
Yakohama, will today hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe.
THISDAY gathered that Sambo would seek Japan’s support for Nigeria’s bid to
achieve stable power supply and agricultural development among other issues
during the bilateral talks between both leaders.
TICAD, an initiative
of Japan, is the largest policy dialogue on Africa outside the African
continent and it is co-organized by Japan, African Union Commission, United
Nations, World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme.
of Japan, is the largest policy dialogue on Africa outside the African
continent and it is co-organized by Japan, African Union Commission, United
Nations, World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme.
TICAD V, which kicked
off on Saturday, has 39 African heads of states and governments, and several
development partners in attendance.
off on Saturday, has 39 African heads of states and governments, and several
development partners in attendance.
Source: Thisday
