Japan-Somalia Relations
Japan-Somalia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
On August 26, commencing at 5:20 p.m., for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was visiting Nairobi (Kenya) to attend the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), held a Japan-Somalia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with H.E. Mr. Abdisalam Hadlie Omar, Ph.D., Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The overview is as follows.
1. In his opening remarks, Foreign Minister Kishida expressed his desire to work together for the success of this first TICAD event in Africa. In response, Minister Abdisalam expressed Somalia’s gratitude for the decision to hold TICAD in Africa.
2. Minister Abdisalam commented that Japan is a valuable partner who provides assistance to Somalia’s development and that Japan’s assistance is making a major difference in poverty reduction and institution building. In particular, he expressed his appreciation for Japan’s police assistance. He also noted Somalia’s hope for investments by Japanese companies in farming, fishing and other areas and for further support in human resource development.
3. Foreign Minister Kishida commented that Japan intends to cooperate in such areas as the smooth implementation of Somalia’s parliamentary and presidential elections and police assistance. He also stated Japan’s plans to provide human resource development through the ABE Initiative.
4. Furthermore, the two Ministers exchanged opinions on cooperation in the international arena, including United Nations Security Council reform.