Press Release Nº58/2013

AUC Chairperson to attend TICAD V in Yokohama, Japan

Yokohama, Japan: 30 May, 2013:The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. NkosazanaDlaminiZumais expected in Yokohama, Japan, on 31May 2013, at the head of a delegation of the African Union Commission (AUC), to attend the fifth edition of the “Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V). The conference is taking place 1-3 June 2013, under the overarching theme of, “Hand in Hand with a Dynamic Africa.”

TICAD V is being co-organised by the Government of Japan, the African Union Commission,theUnited Nations Office of the Special Advisor for Africa (UNOSAA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank. It is the firsttime that the AUC is a co-organiser of TICAD.

The Government of Japan launched TICAD in 1993, with the aim of promoting high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners on issues facing Africa, such as economic development, poverty and conflict. Holding after every five years, this 5th edition will have three inter-related thematic focus areas: Robust and Sustainable Economy; Inclusive and Resilient Society; and Peace and Security.

Dr. DlaminiZumawill co-chair the conference and deliver a keynote address alongside the Japanese Prime Minister,. Mr. Shinzo Abe; President of the African Union, MrHailemariamDesalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia; UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon; World Bank Group President, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and the UNDP Administrator, Miss Helen Clark.

Besides participating in the various thematic discussions, Dr. DlaminiZuma will hold bi-lateral meetings with the Japanese Premier. Shinzo Abe and Foreign Affairs MinisterFumioKishida, amongst others.

A Ministerial meeting holds on 31st May 2013, ahead of the TICAD proper. A number of Heads of States have started arriving Yokohama for TICAD V. The Yokohama Declaration 2013 and Action Plan 2013-2017 are expected to be adopted at the end of the conference.

This year’s TICAD comes 20 years after the first one was organised. Therefore, during the conference, the delegates will review progress made in the 20-year history of Africa-Japan relationship under TICAD, particularly given that Africa is currently conceiving its agenda for the next 50 years. During the conference, the Japanese Prime Minister will announce Japan’s contribution to fostering development in Africa.

The AUC’s delegation comprises: the Commissioners for Economic Affairs; Peace and Security; Rural Economy and Agriculture, the Chief of Staff, Directors for Economic Affairs, Human Resource, Science and Technology, Head of Africa Strategic Partnership and various experts from the Commission.