YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru pledged continued support for Africa, promising investment, job creation, and infrastructure development during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD 9) yesterday.
Addressing African heads of state, including Eswatini representatives, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Shigeru said Japan has maintained strong ties with Africa since 1993 and TICAD reflects the country’s leadership in supporting the continent’s development.
The Prime Minister outlined plans to collaborate with the African Development Bank on a $5.5 billion initiative to back public-private partnerships, benefiting around 300,000 people, particularly youth and women. “We will work together in peace and security in Africa. Africa is participating in shaping the world order; hence, we need to strengthen the rule of law and good governance,” he said.
Shigeru also committed Japan to supporting UN reforms to secure permanent Security Council seats for Africa. He noted that the Kingdom of Eswatini has already benefited from Japan’s concessional loans and grants for roads, water projects, schools, food provision, and health programs.
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