Remarks by H.E. Mr. Estifanos Afeworki Haile Ambassador of theState of Eritrea to Japan and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps inthe Seminar to Honor Mr. Asahiko MIHARA Deputy President Japan African Union Parliamentary Friendship League of July 8, 2021
• Mr. Asahiko MIHARA Deputy President Japan- African

Union Parliamentary Friendship League• Mr. Toshimitsu MOGI, Minister of Foreign Affairs• Honorable Guests• Excellencies and Dear Colleagues• Ladies and gentlemen
It is an honor for me to be present here today in this publicseminar held to congratulate and express support to theHonorable Mr. Asahiko MIHARA a great friend of Africa andAfrican countries, who has been very much involved as aJapanese citizen at his young age and as a politician at his senior
age to build a robust, sustainable and efficient bridge between
African countries and Japan for almost half a century now.
Japan’s immediate future trading partner is definitely the African
continent. Currently Africa is without doubt undergoing rapid
economic expansion and the requirement for export of quality
infrastructure of Japan to Africa is obviously going to be verysignificant in this particular period of its history. Therefore, let metake this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude,
on behalf of the African Diplomatic Corps, to the very proactive
economic diplomacy of Japan through the TICAD process
towards this end. Honorable Mr. MIHARA and members of JapanAU Parliamentary Friendship League push and influence havebeen
vivid and key in all the efforts made so far. Therefore, allow me
to take this opportunity to wish you and your colleagues all thesuccess on your continued efforts towards a successful endresult.

1Japan shall open an Embassy in Eritrea on January 2022. Localand Japanese experts from Nippon Mining, currently known as
JX Nippon Mining & Metals, revealed major sulphide deposits
occurring in the areas of Embaderho, Adi Rassi, Debarwa, Adi
Nefas, Weki and other areas in Eritrea in the early seventies.
Japanese companies made several investments in leather,cotton, house-wares, aluminum and other small and medium
manufacturing enterprises in Eritrea in the late sixties and earlyseventies. Their footprints are still all over the country.
Japan started the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund(OECF) for Africa in the early 1970. The first Yen-loan agreement
was signed with Ethiopia on May 1973. This period coincides
with the beginning of Nippon Mining and investment activities inEritrea.
As in the past, location, business, resources and economic
partnerships shall still be the corner stones of future Japan –Eritrea relations. Honorable MIHARA and Honorable OOKA
Parliamentary Delegation of Japan visited Eritrea on January
18, 2020. Mr. MIHARA described to me his visit to Asmara as a
“nostalgic voyage after 46 years”. I would dare to call it the “rebirth of Eritrea and Japan relationship”.
Thank you again Honorable MIHARA for your constructive
diplomacy and we all look forward to working with you in
influencing the strategic decision making to boast Japan’s private
investment to our African countries including but not excludingEritrea.
Last but not least, may I also take this opportunity to applaud andexpress deep appreciation to Japan for holding TOKYO2020 inspite of the global challenges faced by COVID-19 pandemic. TheOlympic spirit shall be best expressed and shared by all
humanity definitely in TOKYO2020.

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An African women cyclist Mosana Debessai from Eritrea will
participate in TOKYO2020. Please give a special support to thisyoung woman. She means hope to many.
Arigato Gozaimashita!

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