The invitation was extended by the President of the Republic and of the African Union, João Lourenço, during the opening of the ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), this Wednesday in Yokohama.
On the occasion, the head of state emphasized the importance of international lending institutions, which support development, as well as creditor countries, developing formulas that facilitate the financing needed to achieve Africa's development agenda.
"I am particularly pleased that Africa's strategic partnership with Japan is in perfect harmony with one of the priority areas of the temporary Presidency of the African Union, which places your country in an inescapable position as a partner in the construction of infrastructure in Africa," President João Lourenço emphasized.
The role played by TICAD since its creation in 1993 was praised by the statesman, who considered it a fundamental forum for dialogue, cooperation, and the promotion of concrete actions toward Africa's sustainable development.
João Lourenço also highlighted the challenges faced by African countries in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period, which has exacerbated existing weaknesses and delayed the implementation of development programs.
For the leader, recovery requires greater investment in health, education, food security, energy, and mobility, with a focus on infrastructure to support digitalization.
The President of the African Union reaffirmed that the fight against poverty remains central and that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, combined with Agenda 2063, depends on collective commitment and international cooperation: "We live in an interdependent world, and there is no alternative to multilateralism," he emphasized.
In his speech, João Lourenço warned of the risks of a resurgence of protectionism and geopolitical tensions, which threaten the world order based on international law. He therefore considered it important for Japan and Africa to align themselves with the defense of multilateralism and cooperation as the foundations of a fair and predictable international order.
Unlike other creditors, João Lourenço pointed out, Japan has taken a distinct stance in financing Africa, with favorable conditions and a visible impact on structural projects.
However, he lamented that limited access to credit continues to penalize African countries, often classified as high-risk borrowers by international agencies.
In his speech, João Lourenço expressed concern about the ongoing conflicts on the African continent, announcing that Angola will hold, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next September, a Special Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council to further analyze the causes of conflicts in Africa and devise appropriate solutions.
TICAD, which takes place over three days, brings together African Heads of State and Government, senior UN officials, World Bank executives, business leaders, and civil society figures.
The opening ceremony featured speeches by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and TICAD co-chairs Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, and African Union President João Lourenço.
