Press Releases

On May 1, Ms. ERI paid a courtesy call on Rt. Hon. Ms. Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda. On May 2, Ms. ERI paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and also held a bilateral meeting with Hon. Mr. Henry Oryem Okello, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (International Relations) of the Republic of Uganda.
During these courtesy calls, both President Museveni and Prime Minister Nabbanja expressed their appreciation for Japan’s support, including infrastructure cooperation that contributes to strengthening regional connectivity, and concurred the cooperation for regional peace and security with Uganda. Ms. ERI and State Minster Okello exchanged views on various issues, such as regional situation in Africa, strengthening the function of United Nations including Security Council reform, and regional situation in East Asia.
During the courtesy call on President Museveni, Ms. ERI handed over an invitation to TICAD 9, which will be held in Yokohama in August. They confirmed to further strengthen bilateral relations including economic relationship as well as cooperation in the region, seizing the opportunity of TICAD 9.

On May 2, Ms. ERI visited the Kampala Flyover constructed under the Yen loan project “Project for Kampala Flyover Construction and Road Upgrading” and the traffic control center and newly installed traffic lights provided under the Grant Aid project “Project for the Improvement of Traffic Control in Kampala City”, through which she confirmed how these projects contributed to the improvement of traffic congestion and the promotion of smooth and safe urban transportation. Ms. ERI also visited the drainage works site of World Bank’s “Great Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program”.

On May 1 and 2, Ms. ERI held dinner meetings with Japanese citizens active in various fields in Uganda to exchange views on future challenges in the field of development cooperation as well as challenges in operating business in Uganda.

On May 4, Ms. ERI paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti and held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti.
Through these occasions, they confirmed to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in the regional and international arena, seizing the opportunity of TICAD 9, which will be held in Yokohama in August, and to further strengthen cooperation in the field of maritime security with the Djibouti, which is strategically located along maritime trade routes between Europe and Asia and is a strategically important partner in promoting a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)’. They also exchanged views on issues such as regional situation in Africa, strengthening the function of United Nations including Security Council reform, and regional situation in East Asia including policies toward North Korea such as its nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and concurred to continue working closely together to address these issues.

Ms. ERI visited the SDF facility in Djibouti and encouraged the SDF personnel.

Ms. ERI visited the patrol vessels and floating pier provided under the Grant Aid project “Project for the Enhancement of Ability in Maritime Safety and Security”, and was briefed by Colonel Wais Omar Bogoreh, Commander of the Coast Guard that the provision of the vessels had contributed to maritime security in Djibouti and its surrounding waters. In response, Ms. ERI expressed Japan’s willingness to continue to work closely with Djibouti and contribute to the stability and safety of the waters surrounding Red Sea, including the Gulf of Aden.

Ms. ERI hosted a luncheon meeting to encourage Japanese citizens active in various fields in Djibouti who are contributing to Japan-Djibouti relations and to the development and growth of the region, and exchanged views on the current situation and future challenges for both countries in areas such as development cooperation.