May 12th, 2017
International Policy Division (Global Strategy),Policy Bureau
International Affairs Division,
Land Economy & Construction Industries Bureau

State Minister Suematsu’s Visit to Ghana
Ghana-Japan High Quality Infrastructure ConferenceState Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Suematsu visited the Republicof Ghana on May 3rd-4th with the member companies of Japan-Africa Infrastructure
Development Association and held High Quality Infrastructure Conference in cooperation
with the Ghanaian government for the promotion of Japan’s “Quality Infrastructure
Investment” and business expansion of Japanese infrastructure-related companies. He also hada meeting with the dignitaries of Ghana.
Based on the achievement of TICAD VI (Note), State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism Suematsu visited the Republic of Ghana with the member companies of Japan-Africa
Infrastructure Development Association (JAIDA) and held High Quality Infrastructure Conferencein cooperation with the Ghanaian government for the promotion of Japan’s “Quality Infrastructure
Investment” and business expansion of Japanese infrastructure-related companies.
In the “Ghana-Japan High Quality Infrastructure Conference,” the State Minister made an openingspeech (opening remarks) as the organizer and signed the Memorandum of Cooperation forPromoting “Quality Infrastructure Investment” and Continuing Cooperative Relationship with theGhanaian Ministers in charge of infrastructure development and agreed to launched “QualityInfrastructure Dialogue” as a framework for exchanging opinions on a regular basis, and to continue
the policy dialogue.
In addition, through the bilateral meeting with the dignitaries of Ghana, we conducted sales activities
for the promotion of “Quality Infrastructure Investment” and supporting the Japanese companies’
contribution in “Project for Construction of a New Bridge across the Volta River,” “Tema Port
Expansion Project” and “Project for Improvement of the Tema Motorway Roundabout.”
We also attended the sod cutting ceremony for the Project for the Construction of Advanced
Research Center for Infectious Diseases at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which
will be designed, supervised and constructed by Japanese infrastructure-related companies with
grant aid from Japan. We paid a courtesy call on Vice President Bawumia to introduce theexecutives of JAIDA member companies.
The summary of the meeting is in the attachment.

(Note) TICAD is an abbreviation for Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which is aninternational conference on the theme of development in Africa. TICAD VI was held in Nairobi, Kenya on
August 27th-28th, 2016 and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended and co-chaired the conference with President ofKenya Kenyatta (host country) and President of the Republic of Chad Déby Itno (AU Chairperson).

<Contact>
Ozawa and Hoshikawa (extension: 25205, 25216)
International Policy Division (Global Strategy), Policy Bureau
TEL +81-3-5253-8111, +81-3-5253-8314 (direct)
FAX +81-3-5253-1562

Attachment
1. Ghana-Japan High Quality Infrastructure Conference(1) Date: 9:30-, Thursday, May 4th, 2017(2) Location: La Palm Hotel, Accra, Republic of Ghana(3) Host: (Japan) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism(Ghana) Ministry of Roads and Expressways(4) Participants: Approximately 350 people from both countries(Main participants from Japan) Approximately 80 people from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism (State Minister Suematsu, Deputy Vice-Minister for Construction,Engineering and Real Estate Industry Kaibori, Counsellor of Minister’s Secretariat Mori),
Ambassador of Japan to Ghana Yoshimura, Chief Representative of JICA Ghana Office
Hoshi, JAIDA President Miyamoto (Chairman of the Board and Representative Directorof Shimizu Corporation), Japanese infrastructure-related companies of Japan-Africa
Infrastructure Development Association (25 companies including construction companies,consulting companies, trading companies, manufacturers, etc.), Japan External Trade
Organization (JETRO) and others(Main participants from Ghana) Minister for Roads and Highways Amoako Atta, Minister ofNational Security Dapaah, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Glover, Deputy
Minister for Roads and Highways Aduomi, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways
Karbo, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing Prempeh, Ambassador of Ghana to JapanAllotey, Ghanaian infrastructure-related companies and others(5) Summary:
I. Opening Speech (Opening Remarks)
At the beginning of the conference, Minister for Roads and Highways Amoako Atta, State
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Suematsu, Deputy Minister for Roadsand Highways Glover, Ambassador of Japan to Ghana Yoshimura, Deputy Minister of Worksand Housing Prempeh, JAIDA President Miyamoto (Chairman of the Board and Representative
Director of Shimizu Corporation), and Minister of National Security Dapaah made remarks.
<Summary of the Remarks by State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Suematsu>
As symbolized by Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, who traveled from Japan to study yellow fever in 1927
and is still respected by many people, we have maintained and developed friendly relations fora long time, and this year is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
We are very pleased to be able to hold the High Quality Infrastructure Conference on such a
wonderful opportunity. Ghana is geographically and economically central in the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and as we expect further economic growth,
infrastructure development including roads, bridges and ports is an urgent issue. It is also
important to take measures against traffic congestion and improve the living environment inresponse to the progress of urbanization. “Quality of Infrastructure” is important when
responding to infrastructure demand. Today's conference is attended by 25 Japanese companies,
who will share advanced technologies and construction methods not only bridge steel that does
not require painting, quick and efficient road paving technology, but also environmental

consideration and security management during the construction and compliance withconstruction period that Japan is proud of. We expect that peoples of both countries, who havemaintained amicable bilateral relations, will build and develop further cooperative relations inthe field of infrastructure.

<Opening Speech by State Minister Suematsu>

After the opening speech (opening remarks), a keynote speech, signing ceremony, company
session (company presentation), workshop and business matching were held.
II. Keynote speech
In the keynote speech, Deputy Vice-Minister for Construction, Engineering and Real Estate
Industry Kaibori made a presentation on “Japan's Quality Infrastructure,” and Director ofGhana Investment Promotion Centre Lartey made a presentation on “InfrastructureDevelopment in Ghana.” Chief Representative of JICA Ghana Office Hoshi made apresentation on “JICA’s Cooperation Program in Ghana,” and Director of Ministry of National
Security Thompson made a presentation on “Transportation Infrastructure Development inGhana.”
III. Signing Ceremony of Memorandum (signing and adaptation of Memorandum of Cooperation
for Promoting “Quality Infrastructure Investment” and Continuing Cooperative Relationship)
State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Suematsu signed and adopted theMemorandum of Cooperation for Promoting “Quality Infrastructure Investment” andContinuing Cooperative Relationship with Minister for Roads and Highways Amoako Atta andDeputy Minister for Roads and Highways Glover. In the memorandum, we agreed to continue
dialogue after the “Ghana-Japan High Quality Infrastructure Conference,” and launch “Quality
Infrastructure Dialogue” for exchanging opinions on a regular basis in order to promote“Quality Infrastructure Investment.” In addition, two Japanese infrastructure-related companies
also signed a memorandum of cooperation in infrastructure sector with the Association ofBuilding and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG) and the Association of Road
Contractors of Ghana (ASROC).

<Signing Ceremony>(State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Suematsu promised to continue the cooperative
relationship with Minister for Roads and Highways Atta, and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Glover.)<Representatives of Japan and Ghana>

IV. Company Session (Company Presentation)
In the company session, representatives of 25 Japanese infrastructure-related companies(Japan-Africa Infrastructure Development Association) made presentations on their companies’business activities and examples of “Quality Infrastructure Investment.”
V. Workshop
The workshop was held and divided into themes of “Cooperation in Construction Industry,” and“Cutting-Edge Technology for Quality Infrastructure” in response to the interests of participants.
After presentations from Japanese and Ghanaian companies, lively questions and answers andexchanges of opinions took place.
VI. Business Matching
Japanese companies were divided into individual booths and interviewed with interested
Ghanaian companies. Through active information exchange, Japanese companies built
relationships with Ghanaian companies that could be partners.

<Workshop><Business Matching>

2. Bilateral Meeting with the Dignitaries of the Republic of Ghana (May 3rd)
State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Suematsu had a meeting with Ministerfor Roads and Highways Amoako Atta, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Aduomi andDeputy Minister for Roads and Highways Glover. We agreed to strengthen the cooperative
relationship to promote investment in “Quality Infrastructure” based on the achievement of TICAD
VI. We also conducted sales activities for supporting the Japanese companies’ contribution in“Project for Construction of a New Bridge across the Volta River,” “Project for Improvement of theTema Motorway Roundabout,” etc. In addition, we introduced the accompanying Japanese
infrastructure-related companies (Japan-Africa Infrastructure Development Association).
Minister for Roads and Highways Amoako Atta, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Aduomi
and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Glover welcomed the Japanese delegation andexpressed their expectations for Japan as it is timely and meaningful to hold the High Quality
Infrastructure Conference on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the independence andestablishment of diplomatic relations. Based on the signed memorandum, we confirmed to hold
“Quality Infrastructure Dialogue” in November as a follow-up to the conference.

<Bilateral Meeting>

3. Sod Cutting Ceremony for the Project for the Construction of Advanced Research Center
for Infectious Diseases at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (May 3rd)
State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Suematsu attended the sod cutting
ceremony for the Project for the Construction of Advanced Research Center for Infectious Diseases
at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research which will be designed, supervised, andconstructed by Japanese infrastructure-related companies with grant aid from Japan. At the Noguchi
Medical Research Institute in the University of Ghana, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary
Education Yankah and Minister of Health Manu welcomed the Japanese delegation. Vice Chancellorof University of Ghana Agyei Mensah and Ambassador of Ghana to Japan Allotey showed theirgratitude. After that, they went to see the site for construction, conducted ribbon cutting and tree
planting ceremonies. We also exchanged opinions with the Japanese company in charge of theconstruction of this research center.

<Tree Planting><Visit to Future Construction Site>

4. Courtesy Call on Vice President Bawumia (May 4th)
State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Suematsu paid a courtesy call on VicePresident Bawumia. He reported that the “Ghana-Japan High Quality Infrastructure Conference”
was successfully held and mentioned that he attended the sod cutting ceremony for the Project for
the Construction of Advanced Research Center for Infectious Diseases at Noguchi Memorial
Institute for Medical Research.
He introduced the accompanying Japanese infrastructure-related companies (members Japan-Africa
Infrastructure Development Association).

<Courtesy Call on Vice President Bawumia>