Ms. Seiko Hashimoto, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to Attend the Fifth Africa-Asia Business Forum held in the Republic of Uganda and to Visit the Republic of Rwanda

June 9, 2009
Japanese

From June 15 (Mon) to June 17 (Wed), Japan will organize the Fifth Africa-Asia Business Forum (AABF V) in the Republic of Uganda together with the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank. Ms. Seiko Hashimoto, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, will be attending the Forum and giving speeches at the opening and closing sessions.
AABF is one of the assistance measures of the TICAD Process with the aim of promoting business linkage between Africa and Asia in order to boost economic growth across African continent. AABF V will be held on the theme of “Sustainable Development and Promotion of Tourism in Africa” this year.
Prior to AABF V, Japan will be dispatching a reconnaissance mission to the Republic of Rwanda from June 11 (Thu) to June 14 (Sun) consisting of tourism-related parties from both the public and private sectors. State Secretary, Hashimoto will head the mission to exchange views with local tourism-related parties as well as to visit relevant facilities. She will also have talks with the Rwandan government on bilateral relations, as well as topics including regional affairs.

(Reference 1) The Africa-Asia Business Forum

The AABF is a program that deals mainly with business matching between private businesses in order to promote trade and investment between Africa and Asia. The forum has been held a total of four times in Africa or Asia since 1999. The upcoming fifth forum will differ from the previous four in that government affiliated parties will also be participating and policy dialogue will take place.

(Reference 2) Travel Schedule

June 10 (Wed) [Night] Depart from Haneda (via Dubai and Nairobi)
        11 (Thu) [Evening] Arrive in Kigali (Rwanda)
        14 (Sun) [Afternoon] Depart from Kigali Arrive in Entebbe (Uganda)
        16 (Tue) [Evening] Depart from Entebbe (via Dubai and Kansai International Airport)
        17 (Wed) [Night] Arrive in Haneda

(END)

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