Representatives from Africa and Japan gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, today for the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), where Japan pledged a $30 billion development assistance program aimed at boosting infrastructure, manufacturing, agricultural development, women’s empowerment, healthcare, and scientific cooperation across the continent.
The program, announced by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will focus on key sectors including infrastructure development, capacity building, and fostering stability. Egypt was actively involved in several agreements related to this initiative. Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab led a delegation from the Egyptian General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, meeting with the Japanese Foreign Trade Organisation to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening bilateral investment and communication between the two nations.
A significant agreement also emerged from the summit, with 12 African countries signing on to the North-South Corridor initiative. This ambitious project seeks to improve roads, railways, ports, energy, and other infrastructure projects connecting South Africa to Egypt, passing through countries such as Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Sudan, among others.
In parallel, Ambassador Amgad Ghaffar, director of African organizations at Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with counterparts from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria to address stalled talks on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). Proposed by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the CFTA aims to unite 54 African nations with a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion, creating a single African market for goods and services.
Nelson Ndirangu, Director of Economic Affairs at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the importance of Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria in driving the CFTA discussions, as these nations represent the major economic blocs on the continent.
Since 2013, Egypt has been one of the largest recipients of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Africa, with Japan contributing to the country’s infrastructure, education, and cultural projects, including the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Japan’s increasing focus on Africa comes as African leaders turn to countries like China and Japan for development assistance. Hideki Yamamoto, Director of Information and Culture at the Japanese Embassy in Egypt, emphasized Egypt’s strategic shift towards the East, noting that President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi recognizes the growing importance of collaboration with Eastern countries.
Since its inception, TICAD has contributed significantly to Africa’s development. Japan has pledged $43 billion to the continent as part of its diplomatic strategy to offer high-quality development aid, focusing on infrastructure, education, and training rather than military assistance.
Prime Minister Abe also noted the success of the previous TICAD conference, TICAD V, stating that 67% of the commitments made at that conference have already been fulfilled. Looking ahead, Japan aims to invest an additional $10 billion over three years in infrastructure development and to expand the ABE Initiative, which trains African workers in Japan, enhancing skills and productivity across the continent.
