Remarks by H.E. Mr. Estifanos Afeworki Ambassador of the State ofEritrea to Japan and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) atthe Online discussion Via Zoom between TICAD committee(ADC) andUNIDO ITPO Tokyo Plus IDDA Coordinator, AFR February 9, 2022••••

Thank you, Ambassador ELLOUMI, for your kind introduction,
Ms. Matilda Muweme, IDDA, AFR: UNIDO’s coordinator,
Mr. Yuko Yasunaga, Head ITPO Tokyo UNIDO
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,Konichiwa!
As we all know, Japan and Africa diplomacy on the TICAD process isindeed very important. TICAD6 was held in Africa in 2016 in Nairobi Kenyaand TICAD5 was held in Yokohama Japan in 2013. In these two importantsummits, there was a qualitative change in the TICAD process. Economic
diplomacy was taken as a central strategic priority - as clearlydemonstrated and announced by the 60 billion USD pledges made by theGovernment of Japan towards this endeavor in the outcome and decisionsof these two important conferences.
From what we all witnessed in this period of close to one decade, among
the various initiatives of cooperation undertaken the UNIDO’s model
Programme for Country aimed at industrial development has been seen
gaining traction and scoring some degree of success in various Africancountries. The program is currently supporting actively the national
development agendas of Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Morocco,Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia. This programme which is clearlysupporting to help these African countries achieve their national industrial
development goals must be applauded.
Hence, it is prudent to underline briefly here and request, on behalf of theAfrican Diplomatic Corps, in this important meeting of today with IDDA II
AFR and ITPO UNIDO Tokyo, for the TICAD8 co-organizers to look forways and means of expanding this program to the rest of the Africancountries because it is in the benefit of their national industrial development
programs, Japan’s and other developed economies too.
The tasks outlined in Agenda 2030 of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and Industrial development programs also outlined in Agenda 2063
1

of the African Union can benefit greatly from an inclusive mutual continued
active energy and resources diplomacy between our African countries,Japan and other developed economies.
African countries are definitely gaining rapid economic development andsurely becoming one of the significant drivers of world economies becauseof their rich natural resources. Hence, building economic partnerships with
our African countries is not an option but a must during this era.
The litmus paper for the success of the TICAD process remains to be thedegree of commitments and participation of Japan’s and other major
economies, through all available facets of grants, loans, equities or shares,in the promising future of our African countries.
The African Diplomatic Corps looks forward to work closely with IDDA II
AFR and ITPO TOKYO UNIDO to narrow the gap between political rhetoricand the economic realities on the ground. As we all know, politicalconsiderations though important are not the main tools of industrialization,
trade and investments.
Last but not least, let me take this opportunity to wish you a successful
deliberation in this meeting, andThank you,2