KEYNOTE SPEECH BY H.E. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, AT THE TICAD IV OPENING SESSION YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, 28 MAY 2008
On behalf of my colleagues from the African continent and on my own behalf, I thank you, Prime Minister Fukuda first for inviting us to TICAD IV. We also thank the people of Yokohama for welcoming and receiving us so warmly. We thank and congratulate you and your government for organizing this important conference so well.
Mr. Prime Minister;
My colleagues and I from Africa have come to Japan in such record numbers because we hold with very high esteem our relationship with the government and people of Japan. We have come to cement the invaluable friendship that so happily exists between Japan and Africa.
We are here in full force to underline our trust and collective support for the TICAD process which, over 15 years of its existence, has proved to be a very useful instrument for our cooperation.
It is the sincere wish of all of us gathered here to see to it that TICAD IV transforms Japan-Africa relations into a new paradigm of effective partnership that we can further develop for the mutual benefits of our two sides.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
The TICAD process, though multilateral in character, has been so successful through this period of time because of the pivotal leadership role played by the successive governments and support by people of Japan.
Japan’s continued commitment to Africa and the strength of its own leadership of the Process will be crucial in the coming years. Fortunately, Japan has consistently exercised that leadership, and the success of the TICAD process so far testifies to that.
Mr. Prime Minister;
We thank you and your government for choosing a very befitting theme for TICAD IV: Towards a Vibrant Africa. For TICAD IV to give a particular attention to the development of infrastructure, especially development of regional road networks in Africa, resonates very well with all of us gathered here and the people we represent back in the Continent. You have captured the essence of what needs to be done to unlock Africa’s development potential.
We also welcome the announcement to double aid to Africa by 2012. Together with the focus on enhancing maternal and child health in Africa, as well as assisting Africa double rice production and provide safe drinking water, among others, TICAD IV indeed answers some of the critical factors in the promotion of economic growth and development on the continent.
Africa needs more ODA to develop its infrastructure, develop its human capital and improve the provision of basic social and economic services.
My colleagues and I encourage you to continue to be committed to the cause of Africa’s development and exercise leadership in that regard. We pledge to work ever more closely with you, as partners in progress, in the reconstruction of this important chapter in our overall relationship.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Besides the increase in ODA, which is highly appreciated, TICAD needs to go further. What remains to be seen is increased trade and investment between Africa and Japan. We also need to see more involvement and active presence and participation of the Japanese private sector on the continent.
We are aware of the caution with which the Japanese private sector approaches Africa. For them, Africa is a far-off land and too risky to invest in. Consequently, Japanese investment in Africa has remained small. According to the World Bank, Japanese FDI in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2002 and 2004 amounted to US $415 million only. This was roughly 0.4% of Japan’s total global FDI flow of US $108.5 billion.
Interestingly, of those US $415 million that Japanese firms have invested in Africa, US $352 million or 85% went to just two countries - South Africa and Egypt. So, the rest of Africa was left to share the remaining US $63 million.
With regards to trade, goods and services exported to Japan from Africa were less than 2% of Japan’s total imports in 2003-2004.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
This must change, and I believe it is possible for that change to happen. There can be more investments and more trade between us. I know we in Africa have to go the extra mile to convince the Japanese investors about coming to Africa. We have been doing precisely that over the many years but we realize that we have to do a lot more until we succeed in convincing the Japanese private sector that Africa is a good place to invest and do business. While we pledge readiness to continue to do so, we seek the support of the Government of Japan to do more to encourage the Japanese private sector to venture into Africa.
I say with no hesitation, on behalf of my colleagues, that the perceived risks of doing business with or in Africa today are more a matter of the unforgotten past history than what is actually obtaining on the ground in Africa today. Africa is a safer, prospective and lucrative place to invest. My colleagues and I will take time and turns to explain about that in greater detail during this meeting.
It is our considered view that, may be, Japanese businesses need more assurances from their government to allay their fears about risks in Africa. I see the initiatives you just announced to be undertaken through JBIC, as an appropriate antidote to the trepidations of the Japanese private sector about investing in Africa.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Another critical component of TICAD IV is the focus it will give to the increasingly critical issue of climate change. Africa, which contributes least to the global warming phenomenon, bears far more than its fair share of the direct and indirect consequences thereof.
We salute the Japanese leadership in attaining a broad global consensus on a practical mechanism to follow-on from the Kyoto Protocol. Africa is solidly behind you. We will walk with you as we strive to make our dear planet a safe place live. We applaud the creation, by Japan, of the U$ 10 billion Climate Change Fund. On behalf of my colleagues, I humbly request the Government of Japan to set aside a fixed percentage of that Fund specifically for Africa. Above all, make those funds easily accessible by us.
Japan is a technology powerhouse. It is the hallmark of Japan’s development. Africa has been left behind and is still struggling to be part of this important vehicle of transformation of societies growth and development. Africa wants to be joined into the International ICT Community. We look to Japan to assist us in this regard. Japan has the capacity to do so.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Not long after TICAD IV meeting, Japan will host the 2008 G8 Summit. It is our hope - certainly our expectation - that the outcome of TICAD IV will serve as a concrete basis for Japan to urge its G-8 partners to fully honour their own commitments to Africa, and to fully support the new economic-development focus of TICAD IV. We want Japan to be our voice within the G8.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Let me end where I began. Africa has come to Japan, with high expectations. Those expectations revolve around the success of this Summit in setting a solid base for a new, more dynamic relationship between Africa and Japan. A relationship based on the shared vision of a vibrant and prosperous Africa.
Today we rededicate ourselves to realize that vision. I seek the pledge of all of us to make that vision into a reality.
We expect no less of ourselves. We hope for no less from Japan.
I thank you for your kind attention!
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