THE 6TH TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ONAFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

A side event
onAfrican Diaspora Forum: Prospects, Challenges andOpportunities for the African-Japan Relations

June 2016

Organizers: African Institute of Remittances, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kenya)/NationalDiaspora Council of Kenya, Kenyans in Japan Association, African Diaspora in Japan

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Background
The as African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want recognizes Diaspora contribution
as a major enabler towards the achievement of a globally competitive and prosperous Africaby 2063. To build a platform for the Diaspora to play this role, the African Union has
developed diaspora strategy that seeks to deepen engagement and partnerships with thediaspora in order to leverage and harness their financial resources, diverse skills and expertisefor the regions development. Recently, policies have been launched by different Africancountries empower Africans abroad to contribute to their country’s development. These
policies support and encourage harnessing the diaspora in support of development throughthe tapping into diaspora skills and expertise.
Africans in Japan constitute of individuals possessing unique experiences and qualifications
including academics, engineers, IT gurus, scientists, and architects. Most of these Africans
work with leading Japanese and global companies in Japan. They play the role ofambassadors of Africa in all aspects of development, working closely with the African
embassies in Japan as well as the Japanese Government.
Over the years, Africans in Japan have played a major role in promoting and marketing
Africa as a frontier market for Japanese investors. The diaspora possesses the understandingof the needs of Japanese investors. Their technical knowledge and understanding of the twocultures is essential in augmenting the Africa’s efforts in fostering bilateral engagements,
given that 1) we speak Japanese and African languages, and 2) able to articulate the needs ofpotential Japanese investors, based on Africa’s development needs and demands.
Our next step, The TICAD 6 African Diaspora Forum will build on this momentum as well as
the existing partnerships between the Africa and Japan government, the private sector and thediaspora to contribute to development.
It is against this backdrop that the African’s in Japan in collaboration with the African Union,
the Government of Kenya and the private sector is organizing a side event during the TICAD
VI Summit. The thrust of the forum will not only focus on Africans in the diaspora’s role inmarketing Africa as the investment destination of choice but also as the gateway to thecurrent global business opportunities.
2Purpose and Objectives
The principal aim of the forum will be to provide a platform for interaction among theinvestors from Africa and Japan, the African diaspora, and the African Union and shareinvestment opportunities for collaboration in support of Africa and Japan.
Given this principal aim, the following are the specific objectives:
1. Deepen partnerships among the Governments, the Diaspora, and the private sector
2. Strengthen awareness and commitment of diaspora’s role in Africa’s development;
3. Share and prioritize areas of investment opportunities
4. Invite Japanese investors to take advantage of bankable investment opportunities thatare increasingly available in Africa
Tentative program
MC: NADICOKTimeActivity
20 minutes
Opening & Welcome Remarks: Principal Secretary, Ministry ofForeign Affairs, Kenya
Remarks: AU Diaspora Section
Remarks: Diaspora Representative
75 minutes
The role of African Diaspora in Africa’s development

Comments

Keynote, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya
Keynote, African Institute of Remittances/African Union Commission
Keynote, Diaspora Representative
60 minutes

Q&A
Panel Discussion
NADICOK
African Institute of Remittances/African Union Commission
Private Sector
African Company
Japanese Company
Diaspora Representative

5 minutes
5 minutes

Q&A
Synthesis
Concluding remarks###3