Press Releases
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting
Working Lunch Hosted by Foreign Minister Kamikawa on Strengthening Connectivity
August 25, 2024
On August 25, commencing at 12:00 p.m. for approximately 90 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, hosted a working lunch on Strengthening Connectivity, inviting the ministers of the participating countries of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting and others. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa mentioned Japan’s contributions to strengthening connectivity within Africa on both tangible and intangible fronts, as well as Japan’s initiatives to strengthen knowledge connectivity through the sharing of knowledge and technologies. Following this, in the area of WPS, Minister Kamikawa announced the decision to launch “Initiative for Women’s Human Resources Development for Peace in the Horn of Africa”, which will be based at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Leadership Academy and will develop women’s human resources at the regional level. Minister Kamikawa also stated that, in order to mobilize private funds for strengthening connectivity, initiatives for further internal transformation by each government to promote transparent and fair business environments are important. In addition, Minister Kamikawa stated that she has appointed officials in charge of cross-border economic affairs at seven diplomatic missions in six countries, mainly those outside Africa, in order to support entry into Africa by Japanese companies that are developing global businesses in collaboration with third-country companies.
- There were lively comments from many ministers and others who participated in the working lunch. The participants pointed out that strengthening connectivity and regional integration is one of the major goals of the Agenda 2063, vision for African development, and that it is important to create added value, not only through physical infrastructure, but also through digital, power and industrialization associated with enhanced connectivity utilizing private investment. Following this, the participants stated that TICAD framework should be utilized to realize the elements aforementioned.
- In closing, Minister Kamikawa stated that efforts by both Japan and Africa to strengthen intra-African connectivity, including utilizing TICAD, are important and summarized today’s discussion as a fruitful exchange of views.