Zim set to benefit from President’s Japan tour

By Lovemore Chikova

Zimbabwe set to reap some benefits from engagements held by President Mugabe with Japanese officials and companies.

President Mugabe was among several African leaders who attended the three-day conference that adopted the Yokohama Declaration Plan 2013, the Yokohama Action Plan 2013-2017 and the Yokohama Action Plan 2013-2017 Implementation Matrix.

Ticad is a platform for co-operation between Japan and African states in various fields.

To show its seriousness with investing in Zimbabwe, Japan would dispatch a co-ordinator for development assistance to Harare soon to manage the development assistance expected to come to the country.

Ambassador to Japan Mr Stuart Comberbach said in an interview yesterday that officials who met with President Mugabe on the sidelines of the conference pledged to invest in different sectors of the economy.

Apart from that, Zimbabwe also stands to benefit from the US$32 billion support pledged by Japanese Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe for all African countries for the next five years.

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Part of the money would go towards ensuring investment by Japanese companies in Africa as a way of encouraging the private sector to consider investing on the continent.

“The stage has been set for very significant co-operation between Zimbabwe and Japan,” said Mr Comberbach

“We are hopeful that there will be support in the auto-mobile industry which has been limited.

“There is now interest to invest in Zimbabwe in telecommunications, agriculture and infrastructure.

There is also need to add value to our goods for export.”

Mr Comberbach said the Japanese expressed interest in setting up irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe and improve the water reticulation systems in urban areas.

The Japanese pledged to specifically revive the Nyakombe Irrigation Scheme, one of the biggest in the country.

The investors would also consider road and railway projects and electricity generation and supply to assist in industrialisation.

“There will be a lot of benefits for the country and the prospects are good,” said Mr Comberbach.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Ticad conference, Mr Abe said Japan had come up with enough measures to invest in Africa.

“From today, a new course forward with the dynamic Africa has begun,” he said.

“I would like Japan to move forward with composed and sure footed steps hand-in-hand with you.”

Mr Abe said Japan would provide assistance that contribute to measures adopted in the outcome of the conference.

“Furthermore, I intend to bring the stated outcomes of these documents into realisation through co-operation with the wide spectrum of the relevant actors in attendance at this meeting.”

African Union chairperson and Ethiopian Prime Minister Mr Hailemariam Desalegn said in his closing remarks that the summit was an opportunity to reflect on achievements of Ticad and seek new ways in enhancing co-operation.

“We have also acknowledged the fact that Ticad needs to move forward in accordance with revolving global context and Africa’s priorities,” he said.

“Consensus was reached to undertake concerted actions in the promotion of robust and sustainable economies, inclusive and resilient societies with peace and stability in Africa.”

At least 51 African countries were represented at the conference, most of them at presidential or prime ministerial levels.

There were also 35 partners and 74 international and regional organisations from both Africa and Asia.

The private sector and the civil society were also represented.