Kagame in Japan for African development meeting

President Paul Kagame arrived in Japan, yesterday, to take part in the fifth edition of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad V). The conference opens today in Yokohama City.

Ticad V is a three-day conference that will be held under the theme: “Hand in Hand with a Dynamic Africa.”

 During the conference, President Kagame is expected to address a Thematic Session on “Driving African Development through Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment” as well as hold a bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

“So far, 39 African presidents are expected to attend the conference as well as about 3,000 other delegates,” said Masaru Sato, the Assistant Press Secretary in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ticad is held every five years to review progress made in various thematic areas and specify problems as well as possible solutions to support inclusive and sustainable growth and improve the quality of growth in Africa to ensure all parties benefit from the growth.

Launched in 1993 with the aim of promoting high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners on issues facing the continent, the conference will have three major  inter-related thematic focus areas: Robust and Sustainable Economy; Inclusive and Resilient Society; and Peace and Security.

During this year’s Ticad, the delegates will review progress made in the 20-year history of Africa-Japan relationship under the Ticad framework, particularly in view of Africa’s development agenda for the next 50 years that is currently being conceived.

The conference, which brings together development partners, donor countries, private companies and nongovernmental organizations to discuss development in Africa, is expected to address issues like economic development, poverty reduction and elimination of conflict in Africa.

The Yokohama Declaration 2013 and Action Plan 2013-2017 are expected to be adopted at the end of the conference.