YOKOHAMA – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu described the recently concluded Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) as a “mission accomplished” for Eswatini.
Shakantu said the presence of His Majesty King Mswati III, who met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Emperor Naruhito, strengthened bilateral ties and opened doors for cooperation beyond TICAD. The conference concluded with the Yokohama Declaration, outlining Japan-Africa collaboration across sustainable development, innovation, and peace initiatives.
Key commitments include ¥10 billion (E1.2 billion) over three years for youth programs and startups, US$2 billion (E35.6 billion) for transport and logistics, US$500 million (E8.9 billion) for AI research hubs, and US$1.5 billion (E26.7 billion) to boost healthcare systems and disaster preparedness. The Declaration also targets a 20 per cent increase in stable food supply chains by 2030 and a 15 per cent growth in responsible mining of critical minerals by 2028.
On the sidelines, Minister Shakantu led bilateral talks with Japanese officials, including former State Minister Suzuki Takako, focusing on youth empowerment, education, food security, environmental sustainability, and diplomatic cooperation. She noted Japan’s interest in Eswatini’s unique ties with Taiwan and opportunities to expand investment.
Shakantu said the Eswatini exhibition stand drew strong interest from Japanese, Asian, and African delegates, particularly in the country’s culture and monarchy. She also expressed plans to involve Eswatini youth in future TICAD youth conferences to strengthen people-to-people connections.
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