Japan's initiatives announced at UNCTAD XI

1. Ambassador Ryuichiro YAMAZAKI made a statement in the general debate at UNCTAD XI, announcing the following new initiatives.

   (i) Contribution of an extra 800,000 US dollars to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.

   (ii) "TICAD Asia-Africa Trade and Investment Conference" in Tokyo in autumn 2004

   (iii) "Investment Facilitation Initiative" aimed at boosting investment, including a seminar on investment in Tokyo early next year with the participation of APEC economies and in cooperation with UNCTAD and other international institutions. It will provide an excellent opportunity to exchange views and share experiences on the needs concerning the investment environment expressed by the business sector and on the merits of bilateral investment rules that have been rapidly introduced in recent years.

2. For more general information, see also UNCTAD XI web site .