Japan pledges Ksh1 trillion for Africa as TICAD starts

The Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), bringing together over thirty African Heads of State, and Government has been officially opened at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

The event, which brings together over 7,000 delegates,  signals the opening up of the Africa Continent for investment and  increased opportunities in global trade with Japan pledging Ksh.1 trillion for infrastructure development in Africa.

Speaking during the official opening of the event at KICC, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the fund will be used to build infrastructure such as hospitals, roads and energy generation facilities.

The Japanese Premier also pledged to initiate reforms in the United Nations Security Council and have an African country get a permanent seat in the body by 2023.

Also present was host President Uhuru Kenyatta who urged leaders to push for fair global trade.

“I urge every one of us here to put in place commitments that are unswerving in creating the conditions for this dream to be achieved.  We must press for open and fair trade, for deeper infrastructure integration and to develop the human resources of our people,” Kenyatta said

President Kenyatta said Japan’s living example is one of the motivations that drive his vision for Kenya and Africa as a whole.

“As a country straddling the Indian Ocean, we have access to the investment and markets of Asia. We are also developing the logistical backbone and trained human resources to allow African markets, peoples and products to trade more profitably with the world,” said President Kenyatta.

The opening ceremony was also addressed by the President of Chad who is also the chairman of the African Union, Mr Idriss Deby Itno, who called on Japan to increase its investments in Africa.

PSCU contributed to this report