Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura on the Launch of the Asia-Africa Investment and Technology Promotion Centre

July 22, 1999

Japan welcomes the launch of the Asia-Africa Investment and Technology Promotion Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and will assist the activities of the Centre in cooperation with the Government of Malaysia and UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization).
Japan hopes that the Centre will contribute to the enhancement of trade, technology transfer and investment promotion between Asia and Africa, and thus deepen ties between the two regions.
Japan calls upon Asian and other industrialized countries for further cooperation for African development and will spare no efforts in furthering cooperation on its own part, respecting African ownership and partnership with their development partners.

(Notes for Reference)
On the occasion of TICAD II (Second International Conference on African Development) held in October 1998, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi announced the idea of establishing an African Investment Information Service Centre in an Asian country, to contribute to the economic development of African countries, in the belief that the promotion of trade with and investment from Asia would encourage private sector development in Africa. The Japanese Government and the countries and organizations concerned have been undertaking preparatory measures which have culminated in the launching of the AAITPC, the Asia-Africa Investment and Technology Promotion Centre.

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