| 21
to 23 March, 2009
The
Government of Japan reiterated its
commitment to the African Countries
Gaborone, Botswana —
The
Government of Japan reiterated its
commitment to provide technical and
financial assistance worth 2 billion
dollars, ODA loans of 4 billion dollars
and double its investment in Africa
by 2012 despite nagging global economic
downturn. These announcements came
out in the Ministerial Follow-up Meeting
of TICAD (Tokyo International Conference
on Africa Development) in Gaborone,
Botswana between 21 and 23 March 2009.
Adjacent to this, they also provided
US$ 100 billion to IMF and US$ 3 billion
to Bank Recapitulation Fund of the
IFC most of which would be channeled
for stimulating national economies
of Africa.
Most
importantly, the Government of Japan
endow with US$ 300 million to the
poorest African Countries for food
and social safety nets to help mitigate
the hardships resulted by the severe
impact of the global financial and
economic crisis on the poorest and
most vulnerable African societies.
This
meeting was jointly organized by the
Government of Japan and the Government
of Botswana in order to review the
progress of the Yokohama Action Plan,
a TICAD initiative, which was adopted
at the TICAD Meeting, held in Yokohama.
The
TICAD initiative was launched by the
Government of Japan to assist the
African countries in their journey
towards achieving sustainable development
and improve the quality of life of
their people.
Japan
government invited Mr. Harry S. Jooseery
the Executive Director of PPD to attend
on this occasion as PPD has a big
stake in the initiative since 14 of
its 24 member states of PPD are in
Africa and eventually the member of
TICAD initiative.
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