Opening the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Africa as a partner in co-creating solutions for shared global challenges.
He stressed that TICAD has always rested on two principles—African ownership and international partnership—highlighting Japan’s long history of engagement with Africa, from Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s work on yellow fever in Ghana to modern-day collaboration on drone delivery trials in Rwanda.
The Prime Minister outlined three pillars of TICAD 9:
- Private sector-led sustainable growth, supported by Japanese expertise in AI, digital technology, and manufacturing, including Kaizen training that has already improved productivity across 41 African countries.
- Youth and women empowerment, with Japan committing to train 300,000 people over the next three years, including 30,000 specialists in AI and data science, and supporting health, vaccine supply, and education.
- Regional integration and connectivity, through backing for the African Continental Free Trade Area, new industrial and logistics partnerships such as the Nacala Corridor, and initiatives linking Africa to the Indian Ocean region.
On financing, Japan pledged to expand its collaboration with the African Development Bank to $5.5 billion, mobilize $1.5 billion in impact investments, and strengthen trade insurance to reduce risks. Ishiba also underscored Japan’s role in debt transparency and UN Security Council reform, framing Africa as a responsible actor in shaping the global order.
“Solutions originating from Africa will save the international community,” Ishiba declared, positioning Japan as a long-term partner. More than 300 cooperation agreements were signed at TICAD 9, underscoring the summit’s emphasis on action, not rhetoric.
Story: Lawal Mohammed
