QUOTE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO: 233 (NO2422E)
PUBLISHED IN QUESTION PAPER NO: 7-2013 OF 21 AUGUST 2013
MRS W. S. NEWHOUDT-DRUCHEN (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
1) What are the critical undertakings of the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) Summit that was held at
Yokohama in June 2013 that will strengthen this strategic partnership
to the mutual benefit of all relevant parties?
REPLY:
1) The TICAD Summit, hosted by the Government of Japan (along with the
TICAD Co-organisers i.e. AU Commission, UN Development Programme
(UNDP), UN Office of the Special Advisor for Africa (UNOSAA) and the
World Bank), was held in the Japanese City of Yokohama from 01-03 June
2013 under the theme- âHand in Hand with a More Dynamic Africaâ. H.E.
President Jacob Zuma, along with 50 African Leaders (also including
Deputy Presidents and other Heads of Statesâ representatives) attended
the Summit, which focused on the following core themes of TICAD-V: (a)
Robust and Sustainable Economy, (b) Inclusive and Resilient Society
and (c) Peace and Stability. The Summit adopted the Yokohama
Declaration 2013 and its five-year Action Plan that will guide the
strategic cooperation between Africa and Japan for the next five years
(2013 â 2017). As such, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan announced
an approximately USD 32 billion pledge by the Japanese Public and
Private sectors for support of Africaâs development priorities in the
next five years.
The pledged funds will be allocated to the six key categories of the
Action Plan with particular focus on infrastructure and human resource
development, health, agriculture and agro-processing, and peace and
stability. Some of the key details on the pledged amounts include: (a)
USD14 billion for Official Development Assistance to Africa, (b) USD2
billion for trade and investment insurance, (c) USD500 million for
private sector development, (d) USD2.5 billion for human resource
development in the natural resources industry and health sector, (e)
USD6.5 billion for infrastructure development (particularly the
development corridors that will enhance the continental integration
agenda, including industrialisation and intra-African trade), (f) USD2
billion for development of low carbon energy in Africa, as well as (g)
USD1.5 billion towards consolidation of peace, stability, democracy
and good governance (including the African Peer Review Mechanism).
With the African Union Commission being one of the five Co-organisers
of this partnership, this further provides the African side with an
opportunity to ensure that the TICAD Process programme implementation
addresses Africaâs development challenges as identified by the African
Union and the Regional Economic Communities. The outcomes of this
TICAD Summit have further strengthened the Continentâs commitment in
ensuring that all strategic partnerships that Africa has with her
global partners are aligned to the existing African programmes and are
aimed at strengthening Africaâs global standing as an equal partner.
This yearâs Summit marked the 20th Anniversary of the TICAD Process,
which coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the
OAU/AU. In adherence to its twin principles of âAfrican ownershipâ and
âinternational partnershipâ, it is expected that, for the first time,
the next TICAD Summit will be held in Africa.
UNQUOTE