Remarks	  Made	  by	  H.	  E.	  Mr.	  ESTIFANOS	  Afeworki,	  Ambassador	  of	  the	  State	  of	   Eritrea	   to	   Japan	   and	   Dean	   of	   the	   African	   Diplomatic	   Corps	  (ADC)	   On	   the	  Closing	  Session	  of	  the	  Japan	  Africa	  Business	  Forum	  July	  26,	  2017	  Tokyo:	  	  	  Honorable	  ministers	  	  Distinguished	  participants	  Senior	  officials	  of	  the	  African	  Development	  Bank	  Group	  (AfDB)	  	  Colleagues	  from	  the	  Diplomatic	  Corps	  	  Ladies	  and	  gentlemen	  	  In	  my	  capacity	  as	  a	  Dean	  of	  the	  African	  Diplomatic	  Corps	  (ADC)	  and	  Ambassador	  of	  the	  State	  of	  Eritrea	  to	  Japan,	  please	  allow	  me	  first	  and	  foremost	  to	  extend	  my	  deep	   felt	   gratitude	   and	   heartfelt	   thanks	   to	   all	   the	   distinguished	   guests	   and	  participants	  who	  attended	  the	  2nd	  Africa	  Japan	  Business	  Forum	  2017.	  	  	  	  On	  the	  onset,	   let	  me	  take	  this	  opportunity	  to	  congratulate	  the	  ADC’s	  Trade	  and	  Investment	   Committee	   and	   External	   Representation	   Office	   for	   Asia	   African	  Development	   Bank	   (AfDB),	   Chairperson	   H.E.	   Mr.	   VAHEKENI	   Ambassador	   of	   the	  Republic	   of	   Angola	   and	   Head	   YOKOYAMA	   respectively,	   the	   moderators,	  distinguished	   keynote	   speakers,	   panelists,	   and	   all	   the	   participants	   who	   have	  contributed	  effectively	  and	  made	  this	  event	  to	  be	  a	  successful	  one.	  	  My	  special	  thanks	  also	  goes	  to	  the	  government	  and	  business	  community	  of	  Japan,	  the	   ADC,	   AfDB	   Tokyo	   for	   the	   wonderful	   arrangements	   and	   preparation	   made	   for	  the	   success	   of	   this	   forum;	   for	   the	   vibrant	   vibration	   in	   the	   conference	   where	  everyone	   had	   been	   given	   the	   opportunity	   to	   convey	   constructive	   viewpoints	  representing	   the	   mutual	   business	   strategic	   needs,	   priorities,	   interests	   of	   Japan	  and	  African	  countries	  especially	  at	  this	  point	  of	  time	  of	  a	  historic	  moment.	  	  	  I	  believe,	  this	  forum	  has	  been	  a	  great	  opportunity	  that	  has	  enhanced	  everyone's	  knowledge	  about	  business	  and	  tie-­‐up	  opportunities	  in	  Africa	  and	  Japan.	  	  	  I	   am	   not	   going	   to	   repeat	   any	   of	   the	   points	   covered	   in	   this	   important	   forum	   by	   all	  those	   wise	   men	   and	   women	   in	   the	   forum,	   but	   I	   would	   just	   like	   to	   take	   this	  opportunity	   to	   convey	   special	   thanks	   to	   JICA,	   JETRO	   and	   all	   the	   supporting	  organizations:	   Ministry	   of	   Finance,	   Ministry	   of	   Foreign	   Affairs,	   Ministry	   of	  Economy,	   Trade	   and	   Industry,	   Ministry	   of	   Agriculture,	   Forestry	   and	   Fisheries,	  Keidanren,	   Keizai	   Doyukai,	   JOGMEC,	   JBIC,	   World	   Bank	   Group,	   Africa	   Society	   of	  Japan,	   UNIDO	   Office	   Tokyo,	   UNDP,	   World	   Bank	   Group,	   Africa	   Society	   of	   Japan,	  Association	   of	   African	   Economy	   and	   Development	   of	   Japan,	   Alliance	   Forum	  Foundation,	  Africa	  Business	  Promotion	  Support	  Network	  and	  ,	  all	  those	  which	  I	  have	  failed	  to	  mention	  here,	  who	  have	  contributed	   to	  the	  successful	  conduct	  of	  this	  forum.	  	  	  Last	   but	   not	   least	   I	   must	   especially	   thank	   all	   those	   ladies	   and	   gentlemen	   who	  have	  worked	  behind	  the	  scene	  for	  the	  success	  of	  the	  2nd	  Japan	  –	  Africa	  Business	  Forum	  2017	  and	  wish	  every	  participant	  a	  bon	  voyage	  to	  their	  destinations…	  The	   African	   Diplomatic	   Corps	   in	   Tokyo	   and	   AfDB	   shall	   work	   hand-­‐in-­‐hand	   in	  their	   continued	   engagements	   to	   empower	   Africa	   and	   Japan	   with	   business	  opportunities…Thank	  you	  very	  much.