JAPAN has said it will “laugh and cry” with African countries as it woos the continent with mouth-watering pledges earmarked for the private sector, women and youth, and regional integration.
The pledges, made by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba yesterday at the opening of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), represent Japan’s ambitious plans to strengthen ties with Africa.
It comes as global powerhouses are engaging the continent in search of new markets and raw materials for their growing industries.
According to Ishiba, Japan will to bring investment to Africa’s health sector based on the Investment Promotion Package for Sustainable Health in Africa.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC), set to be established in Japan this year and the development of 35 000 health and medical personnel will contribute to achieving UHC in African countries, he said.
Japan will contribute US$550 million over the next five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to support Africa’s vaccine supply, he added.
Ishiba said his country's co-operation with Africa would target youth and women, adding that Japan would implement human resource development for 300 000 people over the next three years.
To support private sector-led growth, Japan will strengthen the functions of the enhanced private sector assistance for Africa programme, a collaborative plan with the African Development Bank, expanding it to a maximum of US$5,5 billion.
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Ishiba said Japan would also mobilise US$1,5 billion in public-private impact investment, leveraging on its official development assistance executing agency, the Japan International Co-operation Agency, to finance private sector investment as a catalyst.
“We will also make full use of trade insurance to reduce business risks,” Ishiba said.
Japan will develop 30 000 AI industry personnel in Africa over three years through the AI and data science human resources development and the Africa economic growth plan.
The world’s fourth-biggest economy will support Africa’s regional integration thrust through the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“We will establish a study committee on strengthening the economic partnership between Japan and Africa, comprising Japanese and African representatives from industry, academia and government.”
Japan has intensified its push to woo Africa and has concluded over 300 co-operation documents at TICAD 9, more than double those realised at the previous edition.
