Critical Undertakings of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Summit at Yokohama in June 2013 that will strengthen this strategic partnership to the mutual benefit of all relevant parties
QUOTE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO: 233 (NO2422E)
PUBLISHED IN QUESTION PAPER NO: 7-2013 OF 21 AUGUST 2013
MRS W. S. NEWHOUDT-DRUCHEN (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
(1) What are the critical undertakings of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Summit that was held at Yokohama in June 2013 that will strengthen this strategic partnership to the mutual benefit of all relevant parties?
REPLY:
(1) The TICAD Summit, hosted by the Government of Japan (along with the TICAD Co-organisers i.e. AU Commission, UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office of the Special Advisor for Africa (UNOSAA) and the World Bank), was held in the Japanese City of Yokohama from 01-03 June 2013 under the theme- “Hand in Hand with a More Dynamic Africa”. H.E. President Jacob Zuma, along with 50 African Leaders (also including Deputy Presidents and other Heads of States’ representatives) attended the Summit, which focused on the following core themes of TICAD-V: (a) Robust and Sustainable Economy, (b) Inclusive and Resilient Society and (c) Peace and Stability. The Summit adopted the Yokohama Declaration 2013 and its five-year Action Plan that will guide the strategic cooperation between Africa and Japan for the next five years (2013 – 2017). As such, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan announced an approximately USD 32 billion pledge by the Japanese Public and Private sectors for support of Africa’s development priorities in the next five years.
The pledged funds will be allocated to the six key categories of the Action Plan with particular focus on infrastructure and human resource development, health, agriculture and agro-processing, and peace and stability. Some of the key details on the pledged amounts include: (a) USD14 billion for Official Development Assistance to Africa, (b) USD2 billion for trade and investment insurance, (c) USD500 million for private sector development, (d) USD2.5 billion for human resource development in the natural resources industry and health sector, (e) USD6.5 billion for infrastructure development (particularly the development corridors that will enhance the continental integration agenda, including industrialisation and intra-African trade), (f) USD2 billion for development of low carbon energy in Africa, as well as (g) USD1.5 billion towards consolidation of peace, stability, democracy and good governance (including the African Peer Review Mechanism).
With the African Union Commission being one of the five Co-organisers of this partnership, this further provides the African side with an opportunity to ensure that the TICAD Process programme implementation addresses Africa’s development challenges as identified by the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities. The outcomes of this TICAD Summit have further strengthened the Continent’s commitment in ensuring that all strategic partnerships that Africa has with her global partners are aligned to the existing African programmes and are aimed at strengthening Africa’s global standing as an equal partner. This year’s Summit marked the 20th Anniversary of the TICAD Process, which coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the OAU/AU. In adherence to its twin principles of “African ownership” and “international partnership”, it is expected that, for the first time, the next TICAD Summit will be held in Africa.
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