YOKOHAMA--Japan promised up to 3.2 trillion yen ($32 billion) in public and private assistance to Africa over five years at the opening of a key international conference on June 1.
"What Africa needs are private-sector investments and public-private cooperation that can make the best use of them," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a keynote speech for the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
He said the package will include official development assistance worth 1.4 trillion yen, mainly directed toward infrastructure development.
Abe, who chairs the conference, asked African leaders to join forces for development of the global economy, calling Japan and Africa "co-managers," much more than "good partners."
He said he wants to visit the continent as soon as possible.
The prime minister also unveiled the Abe Initiative, which will bring 1,000 talented African youths to Japan to study at university and work as company interns.
The initiative is part of an industrial human resources development program targeting 30,000 Africans.
Abe said Japan will promote corporate investments and provide assistance in health, education, agriculture and other areas.
He also said Japan will play a more active role in peace building, expanding on the Self-Defense Forces' peacekeeping operations in South Sudan and anti-piracy activities off Somalia.
Fifty-one African nations are represented at the conference, with 39 top government leaders taking part.
The delegates, including representatives of international organizations, will discuss economy, health, education, conflict resolution and other issues over the three-day period.
A declaration outlining policies on African development will be adopted on the final day.
Japan hosts a TICAD session every five years with support from organizations including the United Nations and the World Bank.
On May 31, Abe individually met with 10 African leaders, including the presidents of Ethiopia and Somalia, in Yokohama.
He also attended a meeting to discuss support to Somalia, long ravaged by civil war, and promised 5 billion yen in assistance.
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