Kishida Fumio, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs tells of how the country will enhance the practical implementation of TICAD V action plan.
Japan provided Cameroon with a non-project grant-aid of over FCFA 4 billion. Cameroon is presently committed to implementing its Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) with the aim of becoming an emerging nation by 2035. How does Japan intend to assist Cameroon achieve this goal?
Since 1960 when Cameroon achieved independence, Japan has maintained diplomatic relations and friendly bilateral ties with Cameroon. During the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, Nakatsue village in Ohita prefecture was chosen as a training camp for the national team of Cameroon and the friendly exchange between the Cameroon players and the local people of Nakatsue received a lot of media attention. I have heard that the people of Nakatsue will cheer for the Cameroon team in the FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil this year. I am happy to see that the exchange between our two countries is taking root.
Relations between Cameroon and Japan at the diplomatic level are also excellent. For example, Japan has contributed to the improvement of the educational environment of children in Cameroon through economic cooperation with the construction of 277 elementary schools and 1521 classrooms throughout the country. We also signed a project at the end of March this year which would allow access to safe water to 40,000 people of the Far North region.
In 2013, Japan hosted the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V). To assist Africa’s own efforts, Japan is promoting “Robust and Sustainable Economy” “Inclusive and Resilient Society” and “Peace and Security”.With regards to Cameroon, Japan will provide assistance in line with the GESP, focusing its assistance in the areas of human resource development through education, economic development through the promotion of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, agriculture and rural development.Our assistance will be one that makes the most of Japan’s expertise and experience.
My visit to Cameroon will be the first visit of a Japanese foreign minister to the country. I will be meeting with Cameroon dignitaries, including H.E. Mr. Moukoko Mbonjo, to discuss Japan’s assistance to Cameroon.
The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) ended in Yokohama (June 03, 2013) with a joint Declaration and an Action Plan for Africa. What assessment do you make of the first year of implementation of these two important engagements?
At last year’s TICAD V, Japan announced an Assistance Package to Africa for the next 5 years, utilizing private and public means of up to approximately 3.2 trillion Japanese Yen (equivalent to USD 32 billion). At the Ministerial Meeting in Cameroon, I will announce the progress Japan has made during the past year. I believe we have already got off to a strong start.
Furthermore, Japan has been strengthening cooperative relations and providing assistance for the development of Africa. Last November, we sent a public and private sector joint mission for promoting trade and investment to three countries in the Central and West African region (Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, and Gabon). In addition, Prime Minister Abe also visited three African countries in January, carrying out his promise at TICAD V.
My upcoming historic visit to Cameroon as Japanese Foreign Minister, along with the convening of the First TICAD V Ministerial Meeting in Cameroon symbolizes Japan’s firm commitment to fulfill the promise it made at TICAD. Japan will continue to steadily implement the assistance that it has announced.
Of what importance is the meeting in Yaounde of Foreign Ministers of African countries to the TICAD process?
The upcoming meeting will be the first Ministerial Meeting to be held in Africa since the TICAD V last year.It is also the first time in the history of TICAD that a meeting will be held in the Central African region. The fact that Cameroon, an important partner of Japan, will host this meeting and welcome representatives from numerous countries and organizations holds significant importance for Japan-Cameroon relations. I offer my congratulations to the Cameroon government and its people. I look forward to setting foot in Cameroon.
At the upcoming meeting, we will be discussing future measures to be taken by African countries, Japan and international organizations. This meeting will also be crucial since we will be confirming at the ministerial level that the agreements of TICAD V are being steadily implemented.
By discussing important and timely issues for Africa and the international community, we will explore the future direction of Japan-African cooperation. We also hope that the upcoming meeting will contribute to future discussions at the global level.
The Yokohama Declaration noted with satisfaction the progress made by African countries over the past two decades and equally acknowledged the persistent challenges that remain to be surmounted. What is this progress that has been made and what challenges is TICAD talking about?
Since the TICAD process began 20 years ago, the African continent, through its dynamism, has realized a high rate of economic growth. In spite of this fact, challenges remain in certain areas such as health, education and poverty.
In the Ministerial Meeting, we will be discussing the themes “Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Security”, “Post-2015 Development Agenda” and “Empowering Women Youth”, in particular.
The AU has named 2014 as “the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security” and is currently focusing efforts on the reform of agriculture. Furthermore, with the target date of the Millennium Development Goals approaching next year, discussions on “Post-2015 Development Agenda” are already taking place at the global level, including the UN. Finally, empowering women and youth is indispensable for the development in the area of agriculture which constitutes the majority of workforce in Africa.
While Africa itself has been taking initiative in these areas, challenges that need to be addressed remain. We believe that these areas are both extremely timely and important for the international community as a whole, including Japan. Among the various themes that exist, we have chosen to discuss the three themes which seem especially urgent.
Based on the outcome of the discussions during the upcoming meeting, Japan will continue working with African countries and other TICAD partners to overcome these challenges.
