The Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V)

A large summit meeting on African development is now being held in Japan.  TICAD V (the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development) started today (June 1st) in Yokohama City in the metropolitan area near Tokyo.   Fifty-one African countries are attending the three-day summit-level meeting, out of which around 40 are Heads of State/Government. 

From Kenya, H.E. Hon. William Ruto, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, is leading the Kenyan delegation to TICAD V.  The Deputy President left Nairobi on May 29th and was welcomed in Tokyo on 30th.  This is his second TICAD meeting, as he accompanied Former President Kibaki to TICAD IV held in May 2008 as Minister for Agriculture.  This time, he is accompanied by three Cabinet Secretaries (Infrastructure&Transport, Energy&Petroleum, Industrialization&Enterprise).  His schedule during his 6-day stay in Japan is tightly booked with meetings and appointments, including a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe held today and appointments with Japanese private companies.

 

Deputy President's Departure from Nairobi (photo taken by Standard)

The Government of Japan has hosted TICAD meetings every five years since 1993.  Back in 1993, there was aid fatigue among donor countries, and Afro pessimism was dominant.  Against this backdrop, Japan launched TICAD in order to promote high-level policy dialogues between African leaders and international partners and to mobilize support towards Africa. 

Twenty years later, the global situation has changed dramatically.  Africa is the fastest-growing continent in the world, and seven out of top ten fastest-growing countries are in Africa.  The Economist writes that it “regrettably labeled Africa ‘the hopeless continent’ a decade ago,” and it recently wrote a special report titled “the worlds’ fastest-growing continent: Aspiring Africa.”

The good thing about TICAD is that it is not a one-shot high-level meeting.  It is a “process” with long preparation and intensive follow-up mechanisms.  Regarding preparation, the Preparatory Senior Officials’ Meeting (November 2012) and the Ministerial Preparatory Meeting (March 2013) were held to prepare agenda to be discussed at TICAD V.  In addition, with follow-up mechanisms, Japan has met ambitious pledges it made at TICAD IV five years ago to double its aid to Africa and to assist in doubling Japanese private investment to Africa.

For this TICAD V's pledges, Prime Minister Abe announced at today's Opening Ceremony that Japan will provide support worth 32 billion USD to Africa in the next five years, including 14 billion USD as ODA (Official Development Assistance) and 16 billion USD as private and public investment.  For infrastructure development, Japan will provide assistance worth 6.5 billion USD.

This year’s TICAD V meeting is especially opportune, as this year celebrates the 20th anniversary of the TICAD process and the 50th birthday of the OAU (Organization of African Unity)/AU (African Union).   African Heads of State/Government will exchange opinions and discuss solutions on various issues ranging from peace and security to trade and investment. 

All the African leaders will be busy, but I hope they will have some time to enjoy Japan as well!