Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [Tuesday, Oct 4, 2016]
6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) a Success in Nairobi
The 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), jointly organized between Japan and its African partners, was held in Nairobi, Kenya on August 27-28.
73 MOUs to Accelerate Business Activities
At TICAD VI, as many as 70 business leaders from Japan joined Prime Minister Abe for talks with 26 African heads of state and government, as well as leaders from international organizations. Participants signed 73 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering a broad range of fields from infrastructure and human resource development to energy and natural resources.
Geothermal Power for 3 Million African Households
During the conference, State Minister Matsumura from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced plans to continue Japan’s contributions toward quality infrastructure development in Africa, particularly electric power infrastructure. Japan will leverage its technology and knowhow to provide comprehensive assistance for the development of geothermal power, aiming to supply electricity to around 3 million African households over the next six years.
Public-Private Cooperation
Africa is no longer simply a recipient of development assistance, but has come into its own as a global business partner. In order to do business successfully in Africa, productive dialogues between partner governments and Japanese businesses are more essential than ever. TICAD VI helped facilitate the establishment of the “Japan-Africa Public and Private Economic Forum,” a platform for Japan and Africa’s public and private sectors to engage in dialogue and work together to promote investment.
Looking Ahead to 2019
At TICAD VI, Prime Minister Abe described Africa as a “continent on which the hopes of the world rest.” Japan will work in steady partnership with Africa as the continent and its local markets continue to develop and grow. Progress from TICAD VI will be reviewed at next TICAD, to be held in Japan in 2019.
Japan International Cooperation Agency [Monday, Oct 3, 2016]
JICA President Kitaoka Visits Vietnam
JICA President Shinichi Kitaoka has paid a visit to Vietnam Sept. 5-10, during which he held talks with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, attended the opening ceremony of Vietnam-Japan University (VJU), and visited several Japanese ODA project sites.
Among other high-ranking officials, Mr. Kitaoka also met with Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung, Transport Minister Truong Quang Nghia and Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.
On Sept. 8, Mr. Kitaoka gave a keynote address at VJU’s Commemorative Symposium and attended the university's opening ceremony on Sept. 9. At the opening ceremony, Mr. Phung Xuan Nha, Minister of Education and Training, gave a congratulatory address as the representative of the Vietnamese side.
Before these events, Mr. Kitaoka visited Da Nang on Sept. 6 and met with Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho. During the meeting, Mr. Tho thanked Mr. Kitaoka for JICA's cooperation so far and expressed his hopes for further future cooperation in the economic development of Da Nang city. Mr. Kitaoka also visited the sites of several ODA projects in Da Nang, including the Hai Van Tunnel and Da Nang Port.
Da Nang city is a starting point on the eastern edge of the East-West Economic Corridor of the Indochina peninsula, whose role, according to Mr. Kitaoka, is growing in importance.
On Sept. 8, Mr. Kitaoka held talks with Mr. Dung, and he held talks with Ms. Ngân on Sept. 9. Both of these dignitaries thanked Mr. Kitaoka for JICA's past cooperation.
On Sept. 10, Mr. Kitaoka visited Lach Huyen Port, which is currently under construction using Japanese ODA in the suburbs of Haiphong. He then visited the sites of Japanese cooperation projects contributing to the continual development of the capital area including Terminal 2 of Noi Bai International Airport, the Nhat Tan Bridge (or Vietnam-Japan Friendship Bridge) and Hanoi City Ring Road 3.
Through these visits, Mr. Kitaoka reaffirmed that Japan's long years of cooperation and comprehensive assistance have made a contribution to the country’s development.
Japan International Cooperation Agency [Thursday, Sep 29, 2016]
Signing of Grant Agreement with Cambodia: Improving the lives of local residents and stimulating economic activities by constructing a power network in the Southern Economic Corridor
On September 26, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement (G/A) with the Kingdom of Cambodia to provide grant aid of up to 893 million yen for assistance for the Project for Expansion of Distribution Lines in Southern Economic Corridor.
Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, accounts for 70 percent of the country’s demand for power and as of 2013 had a high household electrification rate of 95 percent. Although intensive investment is underway to address the increasing demand for power, the dependency on power imported from neighboring countries cannot yet be avoided, and the household electrification rate in outlying areas was merely 36 percent in 2013, low even compared to the outlying areas of other ASEAN nations. The electrification rates provided through basic power lines in villages in Svay Rieng Province at the eastern border and Banteay Meanchey and Koh Kong Provinces in the west were low in 2013, merely 24, 18 and three percent, respectively, and the reliance of residents on unstable mini-grids powered by diesel generators and the like and other restrictions on power access impede the economic activities of local residents and efforts to improve social services.
These three provinces include key locations along the Southern Economic Corridor that traverses the interior of Cambodia, connecting the region from west to east as a major arterial of the Mekong region economy, and stabilizing the power supply is a priority for economic development in the region encompassing Cambodia and nearby countries.
This project will build a new power distribution system that connects the basic power systems in Svay Rieng, Banteay Meanchey and Koh Kong Provinces that rely on imported power from neighboring countries. This initiative will make it possible to stabilize the power supply in the three provinces, and is expected to contribute to steady, sustainable economic growth in the target region.
Japan International Cooperation Agency [Tuesday, Oct 4, 2016]
Emergency Assistance to Tanzania in Response to the Earthquake Damage
In response to the request from the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, regarding the earthquake damage, Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide emergency relief goods as follows.
1. Disaster situation
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred at 9:27 a.m. (3:27 p.m. Tanzania time) on Sept. 10, causing serious human and property damage in the city of Bukoba in the Kagera Region of northwest Tanzania.
Extent of the damage as of Sept. 22 (according to the United Nations)
Dead 17
Injured 613
Collapsed houses 2,072
Damaged houses 14,595
2. Goods supplied
(1) Emergency Relief Goods (from the JICA Dubai warehouse)
Tents
Blankets
Plastic sheets
Sleeping mats
Portable jerry cans
(2) Shipping schedule
The emergency relief goods will be transported from the JICA’s warehouse in Dubai, on the next available flight.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Friday, Sep 30, 2016]
Emergency Assistance to Tanzania in Response to the Earthquake Damage
1. On Friday, September 30, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods (tents, etc.) to the United Republic of Tanzania, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to the request from the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania following the damage caused by the earthquake in the country.
2. On September 10, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Bukoba, Kagera Region in the northwestern part of Tanzania. As of September 22, according to the United Nations, 17 people died, 613 people have been injured and the number of those affected has amounted to approximately 126,000.
3. In response to the request from the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Government of Japan has decided to provide emergency assistance from a humanitarian point of view for those who have been affected as well as in light of the friendly relationship between Japan and Tanzania.