TICAD 7 Start of a new era for Japan and Africa

The seventh edition of the  Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) takes place in Yokohama from 28 to 30 August. Created in 1993, it was held every five years up to 2013 and is now held every three years, alternating between Japan and Africa. It is easily the most important meeting between Japanese and African political, business and social leaders.

The Japanese government has also traditionally used the occasion to set into motion a new direction in the relationship between the two entities based, more often than not, on the prevailing global dynamics as well as on the mutual areas of interest and cooperation between Japan and Africa.

TICAD therefore is a barometer of the level of historic relationship between the two entities and an invaluable opportunity to review and reflect on that relationship and agree on mutual priorities for the next three years. As such, and given the longstanding economic and diplomatic ties between Japan and Africa, TICAD is viewed in most African capitals as one of the continent’s most significant summits with a foreign power.

In this special report, we examine in detail what the relationship with Japan means to Africa and the role is it is playing and will play as the continent continues on its path of economic emancipation and modernisation.