Africa-Press – Lesotho. On 27-28 August, the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8) was held in Tunis, Tunisia. TICAD is a multilateral platform held every three years to discuss and mobilize support for Africa’s development, under the guiding principle of African ownership and international partnership, co-organized by the Japanese government, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission (AUC).
TICAD was launched in 1993. TICAD 8 was attended by 48 African countries and approximately 100 business people from both Japan and Africa, respective economy ministers and development financial institutions.
With the crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop, the focus of TICAD 8 was on how to realize; (i) sustainable economic growth and social development, (ii) a resilient and sustainable society and (iii) sustainable peace and stability in Africa.
The unprecedented impacts of the pandemic reminded the participants of the importance of “investing in people”, “the quality of growth” and the role of public private partnership towards Africa’s development.
Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio reiterated in his opening remarks that Japan will strongly support development in Africa as “a partner growing together with Africa” and announced Japan’s investment of US$30 billion as the sum of public and private financial contribution over the next three years.
This pledge is in line with the endorsed TICAD 8 Tunis Declaration, which will serve as a guidepost for future Japan-Africa relations and sustainable growth in post-COVID-19 Africa, and specifically as follows:
As is stated in the TICAD 8 Tunis Declaration, private sector investment is critical for Africa’s inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development.
To discuss ways to strengthen business interactions between Japan and Africa, Business forum was held in line with TICAD 8, and 92 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) of businesses were concluded between Japanese companies and organizations with partners from African countries.
Some MOU include clean energy technology such as hydrogen and fuel ammonia. The need for accelerating private investment in a just and fair transition towards alternative sources of energy against the backdrop of a significant increase in oil and gas prices was stated in the TICAD 8 Tunis Declaration.
During TICAD 8, Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan held a bilateral meeting with Honourable Mrs. ‘Matŝepo MOLISE – RAMAKOAE, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
They discussed, among others: Japan is committed to the TICAD process through its cooperation and is grateful for Lesotho’s enduring support towards this process.
Recent examples of cooperation in the areas of education, agriculture, electricity power supply and health are: Furthermore: Last year, Japan and Lesotho marked the Milestone of their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Japan expresses its sincere gratitude to the people of Lesotho for their continuous support in fostering a friendly Japan-Lesotho relationship. As indicated in the Tunis declaration, TICAD 9 will be held in Japan in 2025.
Japan wishes to walk together bilaterally and in multilateral fora with Lesotho through the next 50 years and beyond as we enhance the ties built in the past 50 years.
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