tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
The eight edition of the two-day Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8) begins in Tunisia today, with Zimbabwe angling for more investments and areas of cooperation with Japan and other development partners in line with its thrust to promote economic diplomacy through engagement and re-engagement.
TICAD 8 is a summit-level international conference that brings together Heads of State and Government from Africa, government of Japan, the World Bank, United Nations, as well as representatives from the private sector such as the Japan Business Federation, Japan Association of Corporate Executives, among others.
It is the second time it is been held on the continent since inception in 1993 after Kenya in 2016.
In an interview ahead of the summit, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Mr Taonga Mushayavanhu, said the country needed to ready itself to attract investment from Japan.
“So I think what we need as a country is to ready ourselves to attract Japanese investments so that the Japanese companies can take advantage of the money that would be put on the table to invest in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“This is one of the important areas of TICAD, where when they put money on the table, there is always a portion for Japanese companies investing in Africa, so there are prospects of Japanese investments coming into Africa, and then there are also prospects for trade between Africa and Japan; in particular, Zimbabwe.”
Government expects to continue cooperating with Japan on road and bridge construction, one-stop border post programmes and irrigation development, among other key areas.
In May last year, President Mnangagwa commissioned the first phase of the upgraded Makuti-Chirundu Road covering 6,5 kilometres, which was financed through a US$21 million grant from Japan.
The scope of the project included widening the road, construction of climbing lanes to allow light vehicles to overtake slower-moving trucks and smoothening sharp curves.
A year earlier, the President had also commissioned the Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme in Manicaland that was supported by Japanese grant aid.
TICAD 8 is largely expected to chart the development trajectory of the continent in the post-Covid-19 pandemic era.
Discussions will mainly focus on achieving sustainable and inclusive growth with reduced inequalities, realising resilient societies based on human security, including building durable peace and stability through supporting Africa’s own efforts.
Deliberations at the summit will culminate into the Tunis Plan of Action.
Online Reporter