This archive report was first published on 10 September 2019.
On 28 July 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.
During the conference, PM Abe assured African countries that Japan would boost the continent's growth and development through sustainable funding. He noted that Japan's debts to Africa were well-intentioned and would not increase the debt of recipient countries to unsustainable levels.
Japan pledged $20 billion (Sh2 trillion) in private investment to be advanced to Africa over three years. The investment would focus on developing quality infrastructure, supporting agriculture, industry diversification, and advancing education and universal healthcare.
PM Abe emphasized the importance of sustainable development in Africa, stating that Japan's aid would be transparent, economically viable, and promote Africa's debt sustainability. He acknowledged the growing interest in Africa, citing China's increasing presence on the continent.
However, PM Abe clarified that Japan did not feel threatened by the growing presence of other countries in Africa. He noted that Japan has a long history of relations with Africa in terms of infrastructure and capacity building.
Japan's Ambassador for TICAD, Masahiko Kiya, stated that the country's initiatives in Africa are based on a development model that places people at the core. He emphasized the importance of business in achieving development, rather than relying on free aid.
At the close of the conference, the Japanese government launched three key measures to support African countries struggling under a heavy debt burden. These measures include training on public debt and risk management, dispatching debt management and macroeconomic policy advisors, and providing technical assistance through capacity building and new financial contributions to trust funds of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
