THE ROLE OF THE AFRICANDIPLOMATIC CORPS
IN THE TICAD PROCESSTHE 63RD ASC SEMINAR
12TH MEETING IN 2021
KANTO BRANCH OF JAPANASSOCIATION FOR AFRICAN STUDIESPRESENTATION MADE
BY
H.E. MR. ESTIFANOS AFEWORKI
OFTHE STATE OF ERITREA&DEAN OF THE AFRICAN DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN TOKYODECEMBER 2, 2021
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CONTENTS¡ Introduction¡ Strategic Importance of Africa¡ Prevailing wind of change¡ UN Reform¡ Energy and resource diplomacy¡ Expected areas of cooperation in TICAD8¡ Conclusion

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INTRODUCTION¡ After the end of the cold war Japan’s Tokyo Initiative of Cooperation for African

Development or what is popularly known as TICAD process have been set-tosail in the then prevailing geo-political wind mainly to influence the UN
Reform Agenda. Other initiatives from Asia, Europe and Americas have also
followed suit after.
¡ The African Diplomatic Corps has been actively involved with the TICAD co-organizers in the continued improvements made to the TICAD process as well as inmonitoring and evaluating the outcomes in the past.

3INTRODUCTION¡ In the last three decades new economic giants such as Brazil, Russia, India, China

and South Africa remained in a steady development track and havebecome global economic forces to recon with. The influence of these
economies in Africa have also outpaced significantly by all measures Japan’s presencein the African countries.
¡ Japan’s omnidirectional global policy was also prevalent during this period of history:

G7(G8), ASEAN, China, the fight against terrorism, nuclear energy, maritime issues,
North Korea, India, Republic of South Korea, Central Asia, Middle East Oil, Japan USAlliance, TICAD, UN Peace Keeping, Djibouti Military Base, Trans Pacific Trade
Partnership, Pandemics & Health Security (SARS virus, Ebola, COVID-19), and lately
the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
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INTRODUCTION¡ Therefore, the African Diplomatic Corps here in Tokyo, have been engaged, without

losing sight of these phenomenal developments and new influences of Japan andother Asian economies that prevailed in the African continent, through an active
continued collective diplomacy - both with the public and private sector to promote and encourage Japan to tap into the huge investment
potential and opportunities availed in the African countries since the founding ofTICAD in 1993.

5INTRODUCTION¡ 1993 TICAD was basically human security centered. Hopefully, it is a highexpectation of the African Diplomatic Corps that 2022 TICAD 8 shall put
fully its strategic priorities on resource and investment diplomacy.
¡ TICAD8 will be an opportune time to exchange candid conversation from theprospective of mutual interest of Japan and African countries, both in short and longterm, and to narrow down the existing architecture of power and economic rivalry
complimented with omni-directional regional, country specific policy orientationsglobally.
¡ The African Diplomatic Corps has been sharing with its counterparts continuously

the African wisdom: “when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”.
6INTRODUCTION¡ Hence, the objective of my presentation in this seminar of today, in my capacity asAmbassador of the State of Eritrea and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, is toassist and enhance the continued mutual deliberations between Japan and Africancountries to improve the TICAD process and make 2022TICAD8 in Tunis groundbreaking.

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OBSEVATIONS ON THE PREVAILING WIND OF CHANGE IN AFRICA¡ The key architect of theforeign policy of China (PMChou En Lie) was
diplomatically barred fromaddressing the Organizationof African Union (OAU)
Summit held in Addis Abeba
Ethiopia in1964. He wasinstead received, away fromthe capital as a guest of honor
by Mayor Haregot Abay of
Asmara in the then province
8of Ethiopia.

CHINA FUNDED US$200 MILLION TO BUILD AFRICAN UNION CONFERENCE
CENTER AND OFFICE COMPLEX IN 2012

¡ Phenomenal expansion of

diplomatic, political, cultural,
trade and investment
activities with China were
witnessed in the continent ofAfrica since 60th.

9CURRENNTLY CHINA HAS SIGNED MOU ON ONE BELT AND ONE ROAD
INITIATIVE WITH MORE THAN 140 COUNTRIES

10STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF AFRICA
Described by many economists as:THE FINAL ECONOMIC FRONTIER¡ Population: 1.4 billion people out of the world 7.753 billion live in Africa (2020)¡ Land Mass: 30.37 million km² immensely rich in biodiversity¡ Natural resources: rich in mineral and hydrocarbon resources¡ Countries: 54¡ Trade Corridors: Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean¡ Huge business opportunities for Japanese companies’ investment:

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STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF AFRICA¡ Agriculture¡ Rich biodiversity¡ Fisheries and marine resources¡ Industrialization¡ Mineral & hydrocarbon resources¡ Tourism¡ Infrastructure¡ Transportation¡ Free economic zones¡ Other services

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JAPAN AND AFRICA POSITION ON UN REFORM¡ Post cold war international stage were lime lighted by intensive diplomatic activism

especially on the cardinal issue of UN reform and membership of Japan, othereconomic powers and Africa in the UNSC.
¡ At bilateral levels and through multilateral dialogues the African Union proposal toreform UNSC and its proposed request - to enlarge by 2 permanent sets andprovide one permanent seat for Africa (54 member countries) and Japan’s reform
proposal to have one seat - were and are still on the table for mutual understanding.
¡ African Diplomatic Corps and our heads of states have been actively engaged topromote Africa’s and promoting common understanding on this cardinal issue withJapan through out the TICAD process.
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UN REFORM¡ The African Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo has been engaged with Japan in a diplomacy ofbuilding trust with each of our countries, through the TICAD process by fostering and enhancing
mutual commitments, to international peace, expanding trade and investments. It was also
actively involved with Japan and the co-organizers of TICAD to successfully promote and include theAfrican Union Commission as a co-organizer since TICAD6.
¡ Investing in building peace and cooperation through “Africa solution to Africanproblems” continue to be the main pillar of cooperation between African countries and Japan in theTICAD process.
¡ Being the third biggest economy and maritime nation, it was and still is imperative for the African

Diplomatic Corps collective diplomacy and Japan to explore ways and means to join efforts - speciallyin mutual activities of maintaining stability and ensuring prosperity in the African and global
sea trade routes.
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TICAD8 DIPLOMACY ON ENERGY & RESOURCES¡ African Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo has been extensively promoting African countries

prospects via mutual synchronized investment ventures to Japanese companies,
through several forums in Japan and Africa, by organizing various private and public
diplomacy events, festivals, seminars, exhibitions, media every year andrecently through WEBINAR.

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TICAD8 DIPLOMACY ON ENERGY & RESOURCES¡ Japan stood 7th in trade, 5th in ODA and 10th in FDI in the Africancontinent in 2014.
¡ Japan has been a key catalyst in the creation of the tiger economies of Asian

countries in the last sixty years as well as in the BRICS countries in the last thirtyyears.
¡ Therefore, the African Diplomatic Corps is convinced that active negotiotions ofthe Bilateral/Trilateral Consultations on possible Investment Agreementand High-Level Diplomacy On Business between Japan and African countries is akey pillar that can contribute to the success of the coming TICAD8.
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TICAD8 DIPLOMACY ON ENERGY & RESOURCES¡ Prospects and opportunities for FDI from Trans National Corporations (TNCs) ofJapan in oil, gas and mining developments in Africa are currently very high.
¡ Hence to ascertain success of those important activities TICAD8 should

definitely focus on energy and climate change issues, including but not
excluding alternate source of energy and the promotion of active
resource diplomacy as one of its main pillars.

17TICAD8 DIPLOMACY ON ENERGY & RESOURCES¡ Japan started the Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) for Africa in the early 1970.

The first Yen-loan Agreement was signed with Ethiopia in May 1973. This period
coincides with the beginning of Nippon Mining and investment activities in Eritrea.
¡ As in the past, location, business, resources and partnerships shall still be the cornerstones of future Japan – Eritrea and other African countries relations.
¡ The master plan study made by Japan for the two ports of Eritrea in 1974 i.e.

Massawa Port and Assab Port is still on hold but a need to a revisit is always there.

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ENVISAGED KEY AREAS OF COOPERATION IN TICAD8¡ As a take-off point to revitalize economic diplomacy with Japan by African countries

and to forge a working tie-up with local stake holders following areas of cooperation
were continuously promoted by the African Diplomatic Corps in the TICAD process:A) AGRICULTURE, WATER & FISHERIESB) ENERGY, MINING AND MANUFACTURINGC) MEDICAL & HEALTH CARE
D) INFRASTRUCTURE & RESEARCH- - - School/s- - - Hospital- - - Hotel/s - - - Railway/s- - - Road/s- - - Bridge/s- - - Port/s & Harbor/s- - - Urban
improvement & coastal development - - - geothermal, solar, wind, bio-fuel & other clean energy mechanisms- - - ICT- - - Training in JapanE) BUSINESS CONFERENCE/S IN EACH AFRICAN COUNTRY- - - (including & not excluding other partners)
F) ENHANCE MUTUAL DIALOGUE/VISITS
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GROUND BREAKING 2022 TICAD8¡ Strategic priorities of TICAD8 should definitely focus on mutual cooperation's:¡ Boasting economic growth,¡ Accelerating infrastructure and capacity building,¡ Empowering farmers and fishermen as the main stream economic actors,¡ Promoting sustainable and resilient growth,¡ Creating an inclusive society for growth,¡ Consolidating peace, stability, democracy and governance,¡ Respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of African states, and¡ Fostering exchange of sports, music, art, cinema, media, scientific and culturaldialogues

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CONCLUSION¡ In summary , the African Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo has been engaed in its collective

diplomacy with state and non-state institutions, cogorganizers of TICAD, privatesector and civil society organizations in support of a pragmatic apporoach forbuilding genuine partnerships between Japan and African countries - by consiously
avoiding rehitoric and politization in its activities, and¡ Hence it is the African Diplomatic Corps high expectation that TICAD8 will present

ground breaking strategic actions and milestones of buisness partnerships to berealized within a specific time frame (2022 – 2025).
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PEACE WILL PREVAILTHANK YOU FOR LENDING ME YOUR EARS,ARIGATO!

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TECHINICAL COOPERATION-LOAN-GRANT & OTHERS

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