Lagos – The Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Shinzo Abe,
has restated his government’s commitment to promoting high-quality
investment agreements with African countries.
Abe made the pledge in his speech on Sunday at the Second Plenary
Session on the Private Sector at the Sixth Tokyo International
Conference on African Development, in Nairobi, Kenya.
“In order to develop Africa’s investment climate, Japan will promote
high-quality investment agreements in Africa, more actively than ever
before.
“What Japanese companies desire on the part of Africa is very clear.
They seek the establishment of safe business environments and the
realisation of free and stable corporate activities.
“I firmly believe that the advanced technical capacities of Japanese
companies will contribute to the resolution of African development
issues,’’ he said.
According to him, business opportunities for Japanese companies in
African countries are expanding by the day.
The Prime Minister said that 22 Japanese companies and universities
had already taken advantage of the 73 Memorandum of Understanding
(MOUs) that his government signed with African nations and
organisations.
“The strengths of Japanese companies include their high degree of
product quality and their ability to develop highly-skilled human
resources through vocational training.
“Japanese companies are able to cultivate Africa’s young people one
by one as individuals,’’ he said.
Abe also enjoined African countries to ensure peace and stability in
their communities for Japanese companies to invest and do their
businesses across the continent.
According to him, TICAD VI has provided an opportunity for
participants from the Japanese corporate world and participants from
African governments to have free exchanges of views. (NAN)
