FOCUS（Kenzo OSHIMA）After entering MOFA, assuming the posts
of: Minister of Japanese Embassy in USA, Director General of
Economic Cooperation Bureau, UN Deputy Secretary
General (in charge of personnel affairs), JapaneseAmbassador to Australia. After retirement in 2007, Vice
President of JICA, Member of National Diet of Japan
Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation
Commission, Commissioner of Nuclear Regulatory
Commission. Currently President of Africa Society of Japan

Interview

Establish Japanese-style Manufacturing in Africa
What should be Japan’s International Contribution?
Interview with Ambassador OSHIMA who has engaged longtime in MOFA and JICA
Mr. Kenzo OSHIMA
Vice President, MNKK (Monozukuri Nihongo Kentei Kyokai)
Towards HRD in Development Assistance

had worked together with him at UN for five years, so I

learning and certification tests, with the intention

Japan, has accepted 2700 students since its start in

What was your focus in international cooperation?

immediately met him in Ghana and he agreed to plan aof enhancing the person’s ability of Japanese2013 and entered into the next stage with theWhen I was serving as a Director of MOFA (Ministry of Foreign

project to double the rice production in 10 years, from 14 M

communicationAffairs), I strongly felt the need for human resource

ton in 2009 to 28 M ton in 2018. It was approved at TICAD4knowledge of Japanese style manufacturing. InI wish not only that they will be employed bydevelopment in Japanese ODA (Official Development(The 4th Tokyo International Conference on African

addition to Japanese version, English version has

Japanese companies, but also that they will utilize

Assistance) in order to administer the huge ODA budget thatDevelopment) held in 2009. This goal was successfully

been started

their experience in initiating a startup company

was the top of the world in 1990s. This was finally realized withachieved in 10 years and the new project, Card2, wasthe cooperation of Keidanren (the Federation of Economic

approved at TICAD7 held last year to further double the riceOrganizations) by establishing FASID (Foundation forproduction in 10 to 12 years.

Intendingrequiredtoatworkanddevelop

theoverseas

manufacturing human resources?

further target number of 3000 students.

after returning back to their home countries. We
already witness some actual examples. Free MNKManufacturing requires technology, knowhow

online lectures will definitely be useful.

and experience. The superiority of Japanese

Lastly, any advice to Japanese companies?

manufacturing capability is widely acknowledged

I feel that the interest of Japanese companies infor development assistance including human resourcein the international community. In Africa also

Africa is steadily growing. However, there seems

development.

exists high evaluation and great expectation

to be difference in attitude between the top

In 2007, I retired from public service at MOFA and became thetowards Japan. Through JICA assistance projects,

management and those at practical business level.

Vice President of JICA (Japan International Cooperationsuch terminologies as “Kaizen” and “5Ss”

There still seems to be an image of Africa that it is(Seiri,“far, dangerous and of high risk” and people

Advanced Studies on International Development), the regimeAgency) under the leadership of Ms. Sadako OGATA, President

Former UN General Secretary, Kofi ANNAN（Copy Right: Asahiapproach”.

Shimbun）

Rice Production Doubled in 10 Years
What was your major project for assisting Africa?
One of the projects I was involved for assisting Africa is CARD
(Coalition for African Rice Development), the project to double
the rice production in Africa in 10 years. The key issue was tofind the right African partner. I recognized that the former UN
General Secretary, Kofi ANNAN, was the head of AGRA
(Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), the organization tomodernize African agriculture and to increase production. I202020 年 7/8 月合併

Seiso,Seiketsu,Shituke)

areconsiderably widespread. The challenges of Africaof JICA. She was leading the economic and technical assistanceby JICA. She emphasized “focusing Africa” and “hands-on

Seiton,aretheactivities

promotionoftradeandinvestment,andintroduction of manufacturing. Which country, if

High Evaluation & Great
Expectation towards JapanWhat

are getting out of resource-dependent economy,

any, should be relied on? China has extensive
presence with the strategy of huge amount ofofMNKK

material resources, but technology transfer bytend to be cautious. However, Africa is vast,
diverse and with abundant chance. The African
market is the last frontier and with large potential
as a consumer market. The competition ofexpansion

intoAfricanmarket

China seems less because human resources andThe project of MNKK is MNK (Monozukurimaterials are brought from China. In contrast,

Nihongo Kentei), or Manufacturing JapaneseJapanese

Certification Tests, targeting mainly at the local

transfer and human resource development, is(Interviewer: Yoshiaki INADA,

people or student working or wishing to work in aextremely elaborate and of good reputation.

Director, JOEA ）Japanese overseas company. It is an online“ABE initiative”, the project to provide African

education and training system, consisting of e-students with practical training and internship inincluding

technology

variouscompanies will also not lose a chance but actively(Monozukuri Nihongo Kentei Kyokai)?

assistance,

bycountries is getting harder. I wish that Japaneseadvance into Africa with the Win-Win attitude,
responding to the expectations of the African side.
SeniorExecutive

2020 年 7/8 月合併号

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