Africa

(1) Prime Minister Abe visited Mozambique for the first time as Japanese prime minister. This visit was realized with the intent to secure the base for Japan’s advancement into African markets and its presence in Africa through public-private partnerships. In order to do so, the Government of Japan will support in an appropriate way the development of natural resources (natural gas, coal), in which Japanese firms are deeply involved, and its utilization for promotion of industrial development for Mozambique’s sustainable economic development and improvement of living standards of the Mozambican people. Following the TICAD V in June 2013, the two leaders, Prime Minister Abe and President Guebuza, have strengthened their personal relationship of mutual trust. From the private sector, a full-scale economic mission of 28 companies and organizations also participated, which included presidents and chairpersons of Japan’s leading firms as well as universities and relevant organizations. This visit gave a new momentum for Japan’s advancement into Africa’s resource promising country.

(2) In the summit meeting, an agreement was met to build a new broad and mutually-beneficial “AMIZADE (friendship in Portuguese)” partnership with Mozambique, an emerging resource-rich country in Africa, and to work on the three pillars: the reinforcement of dialogues, vitalization of economic exchanges and acceleration of economic cooperation. In particular, the two countries will launch a framework for dialogues such as regular high-level policy dialogue and public-private joint dialogue. In addition, Japan announced its assistance package for Mozambique in five years, toward “Japan-Mozambique Mutual Growth”, centering on human resource development of more than 300 persons through “Japan-Mozambique Development Initiative based on natural gas and coal” and the ABE Initiative (African Business Education Initiative for Youth), and approximately 70 billion Japanese yen (equivalent to USD 670 million) of ODA with a focus on the comprehensive development in the Nacala Corridor region. In addition, the Mozambique-Japan Investment Forum, attended by the two leaders, strengthened the business relationship toward the promotion and facilitation of further Japanese investments to Mozambique and confirmed efforts to be taken by both countries for the development of investment-friendly environment. Furthermore, in order to reinforce the multi-layered relationship between the two countries not limited to governments and companies, memorandums for the promotion of educational and academic exchanges were concluded between Japanese and Mozambican universities. Likewise, as a part of exchanges in the field of sports toward the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Prime Minister Abe met the women’s national basketball team of Mozambique.

(No events were held on January 11(arrival date) and 13(departure date))

January 12

(1) Japan-Mozambique Summit Meeting, Signing Ceremony of the Exchanges of Notes, etc., and Joint Press Conference
For approximately 60 minutes from 9:35 a.m. on January 12 (16:35 p.m. Japan time), at the President’s Office of Mozambique, Prime Minister Abe held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Guebuza, the President of Mozambique. Following the summit meeting, with the presence of the both leaders, the signing ceremony of seven documents on economic cooperation, agricultural research and development, academic exchanges among universities and others was held for approximately 20 minutes. Both leaders then held a joint press conference and announced the summary of the summit meeting as a joint communiqué.

• Joint Communiqué: Joint Communiqué on the New Partnership AMIZADE between Japan and the Republic of Mozambique (Summary of the outcomes of the summit meeting) (Text (English)(PDF))

(2) Greeting to the President by Japanese Economic Mission
Following the above summit meeting, for approximately 30 minutes, all heads of delegations of the economic mission who accompanied Prime Minister Abe in this visit extended greetings to President Guebuza at the President’s Office.

(3) Participation in the Opening Session of the Mozambique-Japan Investment Forum
In the afternoon of January 12, Prime Minister Abe attended the opening session of the Mozambique-Japan Investment Forum held at Polana Hotel in Maputo and delivered a speech. In the same session, Prime Minister Abe and President Guebuza witnessed the signing ceremony of six documents on cooperation among governmental institutions and private companies of both countries.

(4) Exchanges with the Women’s Basketball Team Members of Mozambique
Following the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Abe met the women’s national basketball team at the Maxaquene Stadium in Maputo, and as a part of the “Sport for Tomorrow Program” toward the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, donated 100 basketballs to the members of women’s national and junior basket team of Mozambique and others.

(5) Encouragement of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
Furthermore, in the late afternoon of the same day, Prime Minister Abe encouraged Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers working in Mozambique at Polana Hotel in Maputo.

(6) Official Dinner Banquet hosted by President Guebuza
In the evening of January 12, an official dinner banquet hosted by President Guebuza to welcome the Prime Minister’s visit to Mozambique was held at the Presidential Palace. Mr. and Mrs. Abe, as well as heads of delegations of the accompanying economic mission, attended the dinner party.