Japan is positioning itself as a partner offering a transparent and “human-centred” approach to development in Africa, providing an alternative to China’s economic influence through what analysts describe as a rules-based and mutually accountable model.
Unveiling a proposal to create a regional economic zone linking the Indian Ocean to Africa, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a major development summit in Yokohama on Wednesday that Tokyo’s approach could boost free trade and regional investment.
“Japan believes in Africa’s future,” Ishiba declared at the opening of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad), which ends on Friday. He said the initiative would support the African Continental Free Trade Area and enhance the region’s global competitiveness.
Apart from the economy, the summit in Yokohama also focused on peace and stability, health, climate change and education.
Leaders and representatives of about 50 countries from the African continent, as well as officials from international organisations, attended the event.
Japan has sought to play a greater role on the African continent while the United States’ presence there decreases and China’s influence rapidly grows.
