Japan signed 14 memorandums of understanding with African public and private sector players on the occasion of the 3rd edition of the Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum, held in Abidjan on December 16.
These memoranda of understanding should enable certain sectors to benefit from financing, including health, agriculture and education, and promote the development of the start-up ecosystem.
The MoU also aims to support African countries in green projects and the production of pharmaceutical products. It is expected to enable the development of the Smart Rwanda project, malaria vaccines for children in Côte d’Ivoire, and the automotive industry in Nigeria.
Beneficiary countries include Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria and Ghana. Several African delegations from the public and private sectors participated in the event, which was attended by over 100 Japanese companies.
Ivorian Foreign Minister Kacou Adom expressed his satisfaction with the strategic areas addressed at the forum, particularly sustainable development, innovation and socio-economic infrastructure, which are at the heart of our shared concerns.
“The success of our partnership depends on our ability to work and innovate together,” he said, noting that this forum is intended to be a link in the continent’s growth and a tool for developing trade relations between Japan and Africa.
This forum is being held as a follow-up to TICAD, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which “provides an opportunity to pool intelligence” for greater dynamism between the African private sector and Japanese companies, he continued.
Cote d’Ivoire, host of this 3rd edition of the Forum, is the first West African country to host this event after South Africa and Nairobi. The theme of this year’s event is “Working with Africa to create new values and develop our future.”
AP/lb/as/APA