Japan woos Africa with US$320m for peace
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wooed Africa last Tuesday, pledging financial packages to boost peace and security on the continent, which has become a key trading partner with China.
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"In order to respond to conflicts and disasters in Africa, Japan is now preparing to implement assistance of approximately US$320m (€234m)," Abe said in his policy speech for the continent at the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa.
As part of that deal, Abe pledged US$25m (€18m) to address the crisis in South Sudan, where fights between government forces and rebels have taken the world's youngest nation to the brink of all-out civil war.
Last Monday, Abe urged warring South Sudanese parties to sign a ceasefire after weeks of violence that has left thousands dead.
Japan has been engaged in Africa for decades, particularly in financing peacekeeping missions.
In addition to the money earmarked for South Sudan, Abe said Japan would donate US$3m (€2m) to the crisis in the Central African Republic, which has been engulfed in conflict since last year.
The head of the AU's Executive Council, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, expressed her gratitude for Japan's contribution.
"We welcome the support the Prime Minister has just announced for the African Union in peace and security in Central Africa, South Sudan, humanitarian assistance and capacity building," she said.
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Abe said boosting business ties with Africa and promoting the private sector was a priority for his government, and pledged to boost Japanese investments on the continent.
"Africa has now become the continent that carries the hopes of the world through the latent potential of its resources and its dynamic economic growth," he said, adding that Japan would offer a total of US$2bn in loans to the private sector, doubling a 2012 pledge.
Key to this growth was the central role of the youth and women on the continent, whose roles he said cannot be ignored.
"We will centre the axis of Japan's diplomacy towards Africa on two groups: young people, who will without a doubt shoulder the responsibility for the future Africa, and women, who will give life to Africa's future generations," he said.
Africa is home to several of the world's fastest growing economies, but also large populations of unemployed youth who represent both an opportunity and a potential burden.
Abe's two-day trip to Ethiopia is his final stop on an Africa tour that has also taken him to Ivory Coast and Mozambique in a bid to boost Japanese ties and business relations.
The leader pledged to continue his political and economic cooperation with Africa.
China became, in 2009, Africa's top trading partner at 13.5 per cent, compared with trade at 2.7 per cent with Japan, according to the OECD.
Abe is expected to fly to Oman later Tuesday on the final stop of his trip. GB/Fin24Japan woos Africa with US$320m for peace.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wooed Africa last Tuesday, pledging financial packages to boost peace and security on the continent, which has become a key trading partner with China.
"In order to respond to conflicts and disasters in Africa, Japan is now preparing to implement assistance of approximately US$320m (€234m)," Abe said in his policy speech for the continent at the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa.
As part of that deal, Abe pledged US$25m (€18m) to address the crisis in South Sudan, where fights between government forces and rebels have taken the world's youngest nation to the brink of all-out civil war.
Advertisement
Last Monday, Abe urged warring South Sudanese parties to sign a ceasefire after weeks of violence that has left thousands dead.
Japan has been engaged in Africa for decades, particularly in financing peacekeeping missions.
In addition to the money earmarked for South Sudan, Abe said Japan would donate US$3m (€2m) to the crisis in the Central African Republic, which has been engulfed in conflict since last year.
The head of the AU's Executive Council, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, expressed her gratitude for Japan's contribution.
Advertisement
"We welcome the support the Prime Minister has just announced for the African Union in peace and security in Central Africa, South Sudan, humanitarian assistance and capacity building," she said.
Abe said boosting business ties with Africa and promoting the private sector was a priority for his government, and pledged to boost Japanese investments on the continent.
"Africa has now become the continent that carries the hopes of the world through the latent potential of its resources and its dynamic economic growth," he said, adding that Japan would offer a total of US$2bn in loans to the private sector, doubling a 2012 pledge.
Key to this growth was the central role of the youth and women on the continent, whose roles he said cannot be ignored.
Advertisement
"We will centre the axis of Japan's diplomacy towards Africa on two groups: young people, who will without a doubt shoulder the responsibility for the future Africa, and women, who will give life to Africa's future generations," he said.
Africa is home to several of the world's fastest growing economies, but also large populations of unemployed youth who represent both an opportunity and a potential burden.
Abe's two-day trip to Ethiopia is his final stop on an Africa tour that has also taken him to Ivory Coast and Mozambique in a bid to boost Japanese ties and business relations.
The leader pledged to continue his political and economic cooperation with Africa.
China became, in 2009, Africa's top trading partner at 13.5 per cent, compared with trade at 2.7 per cent with Japan, according to the OECD.
Abe is expected to fly to Oman later Tuesday on the final stop of his trip.