On the occasion of TICAD IV held last May 2008, the Government of Japan, along with participating countries and institutions, adopted the Yokohama Declaration and launched the Yokohama Action Plan with a view to assisting African development by any available means, particularly, through strengthening business relationships between Africa and Japan.

On November 12, 2009 at the Mita Conference Hall in Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Japan, with the support of JETRO, hosted the “Symposium for Promoting Trade and Investment to Africa 2009”. The event was opened by a welcome address by H.E. Mr. Yoshitaka Akimoto, Director General for African Affairs at MoFA, followed by Ms. Asako Okai, Director of the Second Africa Division, MoFA, who made a presentation on financing facilities available under the TICAD IV schemes.

The African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) participated in this important event. The highlight of the symposium was the presence of seven (7) key speakers, executives of trade and investment sectors from Africa who are listed below in order of their speeches. (Please click their names to download their Powerpoint presentations.)

01. Djibouti - Mr. Said Omar Moussa, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman COMESA Business Council

02. Malawi – Mr. Chancellor Kaferapanjira, Chief Executive, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry

03. Benin – Ms. Carrena Lucienne Azonhoumon, Director General, Benin Agency for Trade Promotion

04. Rwanda – Ms. Rosemary Mbabazi, Director General, Investment Promotion Unit, Rwanda Development Board

05. Cote d’Ivoire – Mr. Daoda Silue, Interim Director General, Center for Promotion of Investment of Cote d’Ivoire (CPICI)

06. Zimbabwe – Mr. Richard Mbaiwa, Chief Executive Officer, Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA)

07. Gabon – Mr. Alain Ethoughe-Minko, Senior Adviser to the Director General, Private Investment Promotion Agency of Gabon

Representatives from the private sector as well as public institutions like JICA also participated in the symposium. Two sessions of Q&A were held and a healthy discussion of Japan’s investment prospects to Africa filled the air. As anticipated, it was accepted that Japan is lagging behind other countries, including China, in terms of investments in Africa. In this regard, a strong appeal by all African participants was made during the Forum in inviting more direct trade and investment relationships between Japan and the nations of Africa.

The event concluded on high note and a reception was held were H.E. Mrs. Chinami Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, who made a toast thanking all participants and re-assuring that Japan will do its best to live up to its promises for the development of Africa in the context of TICAD IV Yokohama Action Plan.