Cairo, Egypt – (African Boulevard News) – The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, arrived on Monday (May. 1st) in Ghana after kicking off his African tour in Egypt, where he held bilateral talks with President Al-Sissi. His tour also includes visits to Kenya and Mozambique. The tour aims to strengthen Japan’s economic ties with African countries and promote sustainable development.
Upon his arrival at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Kishida was welcomed by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. Kishida expressed his admiration for Ghana’s achievements and progress in democracy, stating that “Ghana has become a flagship of democracy in Africa,” and that Japan is proud to be one of its partners.
During his visit to Ghana, Kishida will hold talks with the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, and other government officials to discuss Japan’s cooperation in key areas such as health, infrastructure development, and education. Japan has already provided assistance to Ghana in the areas of energy, water supply, and agriculture, and Kishida’s visit is expected to deepen these ties.
Kishida’s visit to Kenya will focus on the promotion of trade and investment between the two countries. Japan is Kenya’s largest investor from Asia, with over 100 Japanese companies operating in the country. In Mozambique, Kishida is expected to discuss the promotion of sustainable development and strengthen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, and energy.
According to Kishida, “Japan is committed to promoting sustainable development in Africa through partnership with African countries.” He emphasized Japan’s intention to collaborate with African countries to promote quality infrastructure development and human resource development, which is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Kishida’s visit to Africa comes at a time when Japan is increasingly focusing on expanding its economic presence in the continent. Through its Africa Business Education (ABE) Initiative, Japan has been providing scholarships to African students to study in Japanese universities, with the aim of fostering human resource development in Africa.
The visit is also seen as a significant step towards enhancing Japan’s economic engagement with African countries, which is likely to have a positive impact on the continent’s economic growth and development.
