Japan eyes ‘economic zone’ to link Indian Ocean, Africa
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed an economic zone that connects the Indian Ocean to Africa while trying to play a greater role in the African continent, the US presence is decreasing and China’s influence is growing rapidly.
Ishiba, who launched the Tokyo International African Development Conference (TICAD), promised to strengthen business and investments in the region and encourage free trade by connecting the Indian Ocean region to the African continent.
“Japan believes in the future of Africa, Ishba said.
“Japan supports the concept of African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to increase the competitiveness of the region.
This year’s summit comes because US President Donald Trump’s tariff war and foreign aid programs adversely affect the development projects in Africa.
Meanwhile, China has been expanding its basis in the region through infrastructure building and credit projects since 2000.
The three -day summit in Yokohama near Tokyo focuses on peace and stability, health, climate change and education.
Leaders and representatives of approximately 50 countries from the Africa continent are participating.
Japan launched commerce in 1993.
It was last done in Tunisia in 2022.
The United States Secretary -General António Guterres said that African countries have not been sufficiently represented in the international community and in the decision -making process, “He should have a stronger voice in shaping decisions that affect the future of Africa,” he said.
The Indian Ocean aims to invest in Africa, one of the Japanese companies operating in Japan, India and the Middle East under the initiative of the African Economic Region of the Indian Ocean.
Ishiba said that Japan would give up to $ 5.5 billion ($ 8.6 billion) with the African Development Bank to encourage the sustainable development of Africa to address Japan’s debt problems.
He also said that Japan aims to provide support to train 30,000 artificial intelligence experts in the next three years to encourage digitalization and create business.
Guterres added that “unjust and unjust international financial architecture should develop African representation and approve a strong African voice in the decision -making process, and that creating AI capacity in developing countries in Africa will help to facilitate digital division in the region.
Those who are at the summit are expected to adopt a “Yokohama Declaration ve on Friday and will announce at a press conference as a result of Ishiba.
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