Opening Remarks by H.E. Dr. GIORGIS Tekemikahel
Minister of National Development of Eritrea on the occasion ofthe bilateral economic cooperation policy consultation meeting
between the Government of Japan and the Government ofEritrea in Asmara September 15, 2013
Honorable KIUCHI Minoru State Minister of Foreign Affairs ofJapan,
Distinguished Participants and Colleagues,
Let me first welcome and wish you and your delegation a pleasantand fruitful stay in Asmara. Pleasure to have you here during ourNew Year and harvest season festivals. Let me also take thisopportunity to express, once again, my sincere thanks and gratitude
for the hospitality provided to my delegation and myself during
TICAD V in Yokohama and Tokyo last June 2013.
As we all know, Yokohama Action Plan and its Implementation
Matrix 2013-2017 encompassed six main pillars of cooperation: 1.
Boasting economic growth 2. Accelerating infrastructure andcapacity building 3. Empowering farmers as mainstream economicactors 4. Promoting sustainable and resilient growth 5. Creating
inclusive society for growth and 6. Consolidating peace, stability,democracy and good governance. Cognizant of these outcomes, letme outline briefly in this meeting Eritrea’s perspective, aims andobjectives, as well as the needs and requirements for a continued
consultation in this important process through bilateral andmultilateral means on some of the areas of cooperation.
Modern day Japan-Eritrea relations date back to the construction
period of the Suez Canal when construction companies of Japan
used Massawa Port of Eritrea as a hub to their activities in Egypt.
Japan-Eritrea diplomatic relations dates back to the “Italian
Colonial Administration of Eritrea”. Japan and Eritrea had a veryactive trade and investment cooperation since that period.	  

1	  Diplomatic relations between Japan and “Italian Colonial
Administration of Eritrea” was established on September 1936.
Major import from Eritrea to Japan was marine industrial salt fromMassawa Salt Works Co during those days.
Local and Japanese experts from Nippon Mining revealed major
sulfide deposits occurring in the areas of Embaderho, Adi Rassi,
Debarwa, Adi Nefas, Weki and other areas in Eritrea in the earlyseventies. Japanese companies made several investments inleather, cotton, house-wares, aluminum and other small andmedium manufacturing enterprises. Japan had a plan to supportand expand green tea plantations in Semenawi Bahri in Eritrea
during the same period.
Japan started the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF)
for Africa in the early 1970. The first Yen-loan agreement wassigned with Ethiopia in May 1973. This period coincides with thestart up of production of Nippon mining and Japan’s investment
activities in Eritrea with an exceptional high quality of 14% copper
purity. Eritrea was of course during this period under theoccupation of Ethiopia. Though, this project suffered a setback andinterrupted progress for the last 40 years, the good news today is,
the production of these same mines is restarting with an averageannual starting production of 29,000 ton of copper 42,000 ouncesof gold, 83,000 ton Zinc and 1 million ounces of Silver in a secureenvironment and freedom by Asmara Mining Company - a Joint
Venture Company formed by ENAMCO a local and Sunridge
Gold a foreign enterprise in 2015.
As in the recent past, and as I mentioned briefly above, thebusiness tie-up that existed before forty years: i.e. location,business, resources and partnerships are still the only viable andsustainable corner stones for Japan – Eritrea future relations.
TICAD process must serve as a catalyst to the rebirth of thisrelationship in a new paradigm. Eritrea main offer to Japan is its
history as old as humanity and a country of friendship where Jews,	  2	  Christians, Moslems and Anna religions and hardworking
followers of theses denominations have lived in rule of law, peaceand harmony for centuries.
Therefore, in view of their long and short term economic interestand in line with the natural give-and-take-relations that shall exist
between our two friendly states for many years to come in areas oftrade, investment, tourism and other mutual partnership programsof cooperation, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Japan was
targeted by Eritrea since independence to participate in therehabilitation and rebirth of the war ravaged economy of thecountry in important sectors such as mining, fisheries, agroindustries, tourism, small and medium enterprises (SMEs),
infrastructure, energy, coastal developments, railways andeducation for a desirable outcome to the mutual developmentgrowth of trade and investment of both countries.
After the independence of Eritrea, diplomatic relations was reestablished, in a new environment, between both countries in 1993.
And in view of boosting the relations, on the tenth year anniversaryof the establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan, Eritrea
opened an Embassy in Tokyo on May 22, 2003. Japan, as youknow, has yet to establish one in Asmara.
Japan has contributed more than 125 million USD to the nationbuilding programs of the country through Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) process in the past
twenty one years - mainly in food security, supply of equipment
for road construction, building of Assab fisheries complex,
rehabilitation of bridges for the Massawa – Asmara road,emergency aid, port equipment, Debub towns water projects,
improvement projects for higher education and health systems in
Eritrea through Japanese experience, child and maternal care,immunization etc. as well as support provided to promote produceof Eritrea to the Japanese market.	  

3	  Several major companies of Japan such as Toyota, Komatsu,
Suzuki and Yamaha have also opened their businessoutlets/presence in Eritrea. According to the Department of Land
Transport statistics imported vehicles from Japan to Eritrea
comprise 74% from 1996 to 2007. Eritrea is the second highest
exporter of leather to Japan too. Marine salt produce of Eritrea has
been reintroduced into the market of Japan successfully. The
commencement of export of copper from Eritrea to India is clear
indication on its next future destination of Japan. Japanese major
corporates such as Mitsubishi, Toyota, Mitsui, Sekistones, Sojitz
and other enterprises have also expressed their intention andinterest to do business in Eritrea in the past years.
The role of Japan in the border conflict between Ethiopia andEritrea was also mutually discussed and explored extensively
during the last decade, at all levels, on bilateral and multilateralbasis including but not excluding in the those important meetings
that President ISAIAS conducted with PM KOIZUMI, PM
FUKUDA and other political leaders of Japan in the past. Japan isalways expected by Eritrea to look into such issues with great
sensitivity, based on the rule of international law, as well as inview of Japan’s own sticking problems of a similar nature with its
neighbors and their obvious continued ramifications andimplications to regional peace and stability. The rule of law isobviously the only future that this issue has.
Eritrea has also outlined its experience and challenges in the issue
of national ownership and the rightful participation of its
population in economic growth in the various occasions of TICAD
represented by its envoys. Similarly, Eritrea will not shy awayfrom its continued constructive engagement with Japan in thefuture too. The Government of Eritrea supports in its foreign
policy a continued effort for the establishment of a safe, secure,respect of the rule of law, genuine inclusive socio- economic
reforms and mutual regional cooperation of our neighborhood i.e.	  

4	  Nile Basin, Horn of Africa and Middle Eastern countries.
Therefore, taking into account the above-mentioned cursory
background and reference, I would like to express to the delegationof the Government of Japan:
1.

The need for establishing a new framework of policy
consultation of economic cooperation, implementation planand follow-up mechanism based on TICAD V to coverfollowing major areas of cooperation with Eritrea for 2014 2017:a. Agriculture and forestry projects aimed at foodproduction increase,b. Cultivation and process of agricultural and forestry
projects aimed at export,c. Capacity building of fishery industry projects aimed atfood security and export,d. Capacity building projects in medical and health care
aimed at improving health services in Eritrea,
e. ODA, equity and loan participation of overseas
enterprises of Japan in businesses of Eritrea, andf. Other projects aimed at post conflict infrastructure
improvement and economic growth imperatives.

2.	  

The need for Japan's public and private investment toparticipate in the development of Eritrea, through enhanced
mutual working visits, conferences at economic, political,academic, business, experts and grass roots levels in 2014 –2017.

5	  In conclusion on behalf of the Government of Eritrea and myself I
would like to express, taking this opportunity, our deep
appreciation and gratitude to the continued support provided by theGovernment of Japan to the nation building of Eritrea.
Eritrea looks forward to the development of a robust and vibrantrelationship with Japan.
I wish all the best to the success of this policy consultation meetingof today.
Thank you	  	  6