Nairobi, Kenya - 27 August 2016: TICAD-VI, which began on August 24th with a Senior Official‘s Meeting, and continued with a Ministerial Meeting on the 26th is in its final phase of proceedings with today’s meeting of Heads of State and Government marking the first of its final two days at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, AU Chairperson and President of the Republic of Chad in his opening statement underscored that the TICAD meeting held after every three years is an important milestone to measure achievements that have taken place within the continent with regards to Africa-Japan Partnership and Cooperation. “I commend the efforts of the senior official meetings, which took place in Djibouti, Banjul and recently in Nairobi” the AU Chairperson noted.

The AU Chair reiterated that the African Union is happy and remains committed to ensure sustainable economic growth of the continent through the solid partnership and cooperation of Japan within the thematic areas of economic transformation, resilient health systems and social stability.

He noted that the TICAD process is a hand-in hand partnership and ownership for a more dynamic Africa providing job opportunity, poverty alleviation, infrastructure, and dependence of farmers. In addition, Mr. Deby Itno highlighted that at the heart of the TICAD-VI Summit is the economic transformation of the continent. He called upon his peers to reflect on the Post-Yokohama summit; the achievement, challenges and way forward. The AU Chair emphasized the need to put in place adequate and a joint follow up mechanism for periodic assessment of TICAD programs.

He further noted that the issues relate to instability and insecurity in Africa have created significant threats on the economic transformation of the continent and therefore, called upon international partners to mobilize necessary resources to complement the resources in African towards addressing them.

H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya on his part welcomed all delegates to Nairobi and thanked the government of Japan for organizing the TICAD-VI for the first time in Africa. The President reaffirms his commitment to the TICAD process.

Furthermore, H.E. Mr. Kenyatta, called upon Africa, Japan and the international community to collaborate in promoting peace and security and work together to counter terrorism.

Delivering his statement, H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan on his part noted that the TICAD Summit holding for the first time in Africa is historic. He remarked that the partnership between Africa and Japan would contribute greatly in fostering the speedy exchange of know-how between the two sides, of which a growing number of young people and companies from Japan are working together with their African counterparts to shape the future.

The Prime Minister noted that his country will implement human resource development for 10 million people over three years beginning in 2016 to bring about equality, resilient and stable Africa.

H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in her opening remarks noted that TICAD-VI Summit, which has brought African and Japanese leaders, is aimed at promoting the existing partnerships between Africa and Japan. She emphasized the need to utilize this opportunity to discuss those matters that would assist in address in Africa’s development agenda and ways by which both sides can attain mutual beneficial relationship. She further noted the importance of harnessing the greater opportunity provided by the young African population, where the youth and women must be empowered towards contributing the continent and global development.

The Chairperson further noted the importance of addressing issues relating to poverty and inequality, exclusion, extremism and gender inequality.

She called on TICAD to embrace the AU Agenda 2063, which defines the Africa that the Africans want and spells the need for urgency in its implementation.

In his Video message to the TICAD VI Summit, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations stated that the TICAD process aligns with the global agreements on the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, the Addis Ababa Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change, as well as Africa's adoption of the historic Agenda 2063 and its ten years implementation plan.

He welcomed the decisions of African leaders to strengthen the African Peer Review Mechanisms (APRM) and to develop an African Human Security Index. He reaffirms the commitment of the UN in advancing the TICAD agenda, and supporting Africa's efforts to achieving its sustainable development goals.

The TICAD VI Summit holding in Africa affirms Africa’s ownership of the process that began in 1993. It is expected that the Summit would endorse commitments outlined in the Nairobi Declaration and the Implementation Plan with emphasis on industrialization, health and social stability.

HS/AMT

For inquires relating to TICAD-VI processes please contact:

Dr. Levi Uche Madueke

Head, Africa’s Strategic Partnerships

Bureau of the Chairperson

African Union Commission

Tel. +251912641293

E-mail: maduekel@africa-union.org.

Media Contact:

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