Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged a $30 billion (about ¥3 trillion) investment from both the public and private sectors to assist with African development over the next three years.
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Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe told the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) the funded projects would include electricity generation and urban transport.
He says it will also help open more investment and partnership opportunities for companies in Africa and encourage other worldwide investors to do business in the continent.
Abe added the investment to have faith in the future of Africa.
Deputy Executive Director United Nations Population Fund said it was urgent to invest in Africa’s human capital, especially its women and young people, to speed Africa’s economic development.
While Tokyo already has a well-established presence in Africa, its financial importance to the continent has long since been eclipsed by regional rival China.
A year ago the total investment of Japan in the continent was $1.24 billion.
The official news agency (SUNA) said that Salih has arrived in Nairobi on Friday evening to take part in the meeting without indicating reasons that prevented al-Bashir’s participation in the summit.
In addition, Kenya and Japan signed an agreement to jointly develop Mombasa special economic zones.
“We have a feeling in our gut that in Africa, where possibilities abound, Japan can grow vigorously”, said Abe.
President John Mahama has urged African countries to create an enabling business environment that will guarantee the security of foreign direct investments.
According to the SABC channel, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, incumbent president of the African Union (AU) asked for more resources to fight terrorism.
“Our struggle for development can not succeed without peace, stability and above all security”, he said.
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The PM also pledged to initiate reforms in the United Nations Security Council and have an African country get a permanent seat in the body by 2023.
