Japan pledges to invest $30billion over the next three years to boost the African economy

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo addresses TICAD VI (Photos GCIS, Flickr GovernmentZA)

On 27 August 20216, the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) Summit was held at Kenyatta International Convention Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The event represented a major milestone and a big boost towards achieving a more strategic partnership between Japan and the region, underscored by a spirit of partnership and ownership. Japan pledged to invest $30bn in Africa. The amount includes $10bn in infrastructure growth, while an extra $20bn will be invested by Japan’s private sector. This was the first time the conference was held in the African continent its inception in 1993.

More than 6,000 people participated in the conference, including 22 presidents, two prime ministers, which was hosted by the Government of Kenya and co-organised by the Government of Japan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the UN Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (UNOSAA).

The major outcome document of the event is the Nairobi declaration. It outlines areas of engagement such as promoting economic diversification and industrialisation with a focus on agriculture, innovation and ICT-led economy, quality infrastructure, and private sector and skills development. Noting risks such as Ebola and other public health crises, African health systems will be strengthened and particular emphasis placed on prevention and preparedness against pandemics, including by mobilizing financial resources through international organizations. The three-year plan also includes collaboration on peacebuilding, cross-border security and preventing violent extremism, as well as on climate change issues. The declaration also commits to cooperation at regional, continental and international levels on various issues.

“The declaration provides a blue-print for our continued engagement as stakeholders in this continent, over the next three years. It encompasses a wide range of issues —- from infrastructure, to energy, to health systems to food security to regional cooperation. It is specific, measurable and actionable—and I am confident that through it’s implementation, the people of Africa can truly look forward to a brighter, more prosperous future for themselves and for their children.” HON. UHURU KENYATTA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES.

The decision to host TICAD VI Summit in Africa was reached during the TICAD V Summit in 2013 when it was agreed that the venue of subsequent TICAD Summits be alternated between Japan and Africa. The interval of summit Meetings was also shortened from every 5 years to 3 years.

Learn more about the event: TICAD6 official site, Standard Media Kenya, Daily Nation Kenya, The Japan Times, Nikkei.com

The First Ladies of Africa commit to champion the fight against HIV and cancer as a way of improving the health of women and children as well as saving lives. View the TICAD VI spouses programme call to action: English l Français

TICAD VI Pamphlet (English) (PDF) , TICAD VI Pamphlet (French) (PDF)

Livestream: English l 日本語 l Français