Africa-Japan cooperation key issues at stake

Sustainable economy, peace and stability are major areas of concern at the ministerial meeting on TICAD V that opened in Yaounde on May 4, 2014.

Japanese government officials, African ministers and representatives of other partners in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD began meeting in Yaounde yesterday May 4 within the framework of the first TICAD V ministerial meeting to chart the way forward in cooperation with Japan to boost the development of African countries.

Cameroon’ s Prime Minister Philemon Yang, the representative of President Paul Biya yesterday, May 4, 2014 opened the meeting that ends today, May 5. Prime Minister Yang’s presence was an indication of the high stakes of the meeting whose main objective is to evaluate the level of implementation of the Yokohama Declaration and Yokohama Action Plan 2013 to 2017 that sanctioned TICAD V meeting in the Japanese city of Yokohama on June 3, 2013.

The Declaration hinged on three pillars that include robust and sustainable economy, inclusive and resilient society and peace and stability.

Six key strategic approaches constitute the Action Plan as a guide for the development of Africa in the coming five years.The strategic approaches the ministers and other partners are examining the rate of implementation in Yaounde are: promoting private sector-led growth; accelerating infrastructure development; empowering farmers as mainstream economic actors; promoting sustainable and resilient growth; creating an inclusive society for growth, and consolidating peace, stability and good governance.

Prime Minister Yang while stressing on the stakes of the meeting, called on the participants to use the TICAD platform to develop transport infrastructure that will facilitate trade among African countries. He also emphasized cooperation in the agricultural and energy sectors, stating that efforts should be tilted towards the local processing of agricultural products. The Yaounde meeting, Mr Yang said, should make sure that the TICAD V Action Plan implementation is a reality and encouraged participates to improve on the actions.

Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kishida Fumio who is attending the Yaounde meeting said in an exclusive interview to Cameroon Tribune said that, “We will be discussing future measures to be taken by African countries, Japan and the international organisations.” He said that by discussing important and timely issues for Africa and the international community, they will explore the future direction of Japan-Africa cooperation. Minister Kishida Fumio said despite progress African countries have made since the inception of TICAD some 20 years ago in the area of high rate of economic growth, challenges still remain in the areas of health, education and poverty.

Themes for the ministerial follow up meeting of TICAD V have been tailored to address key development challenges that constitute part of the Action Plan 2013-2017. After the opening ceremony yesterday, the participants evaluated the level of implementation of the Yokohama Action Plan and by mid-day discussed agriculture, food security and nutrition. Other key themes of the meeting are the Post-2015 Development Agenda, as well as empowering women and youths.

Based on the outcome of the discussions of the meeting, “Japan will continue working with African countries and other TICAD partners to overcome these challenges,” Japan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Kishida Fumio earlier said.

By Emmanuel KENDEMEH