Yokohama: The Angolan Head of State and acting chairperson of the African Union (AU), Joo Louren§o, commenced his official agenda in Yokohama City on Wednesday with a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba. The focus of this meeting is to review matters of common interest.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the bilateral meeting will precede the opening session of the 9th edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), which Joo Louren§o will co-chair as the leader of the AU. The opening ceremony will include speeches by the two statesmen and addresses by representatives from the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank (WB). Joo Louren§o is in Japan since Monday, accompanied by the First Lady, Ana Dias Louren§o, representing the African Union as a co-organizer of this edition of TICAD, a government initiative launched over 30 years ago. In addition to Japan and the African Union Commission, the United Nations, UNDP, and the World Bank are also co-organizers.
Following the plenary session debates and presentation of conclusions, Joo Louren§o's agenda features a meeting with the CEO of Toyota Tsusho Corporation and the signing of agreements. TICAD serves as a platform to define effective strategies for promoting Africa's development, considering the international environment and the continent's evolution. The event aims to create solutions for challenges facing Africa and the international community, boost cooperation, and strengthen global governance. Discussions will center around society, peace and stability, and economy, with a focus on public-private partnerships, youth and women, regional integration, and enhancing connectivity within and outside Africa.
Japanese authorities indicate that this year's event will particularly emphasize Africa's economic development. Over the past decade, the focus of cooperation has shifted from basic healthcare and infrastructure to initiatives for sustainable economic growth. Since its inception in 1993 in Tokyo, TICAD has been held alternately in Japan and Africa. This is the third time it is taking place in Yokohama, following the 2008 and 2013 editions. The inaugural event in 1993 was held in Tokyo, with subsequent editions in 1998 and 2003. The African continent has hosted the event twice, in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016, and Tunis, Tunisia, in 2022, totaling eight events so far.
