By Thebe Mabanga
President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading a high-level delegation to Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
The summit runs from tomorrow until Friday in Yokohama, a vibrant city about 30 kilometers south of Tokyo. As Japan’s second most populous city, it serves as a vital commercial port, industrial hub, and economic powerhouse.
“The 9th TICAD Summit takes place at a time of unprecedented threats to global peace and security, ongoing conflicts in various regions, disruptions to global trade, and a troubling shift by some states toward unilateral action, when multilateralism and collective solutions to common challenges are most needed,” the Presidency said in a statement.
The remarks were made in reference to conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as the global trade crisis sparked by the United States’ imposition of tariffs on about 135 countries.
Convened under the theme “Co-creating Innovative Solutions with Africa,” the Summit highlights three key areas of cooperation between Japan and the African Union, with plenary sessions dedicated to each.
The focus areas are Sustainability, Promoting Trade and Investment, and Peace and Stability.
The Presidency said Ramaphosa will use the engagement to garner support for the AU’s Agenda 2063, now in its second decade of implementation, emphasising infrastructure development, peace and security, and health.
“Rising fuel, food, and energy prices have severely impacted developing countries, entrenching poverty and driving higher levels of inequality amid constrained employment opportunities,” the statement said, noting also the debt and liquidity crisis that limits African governments’ ability to fund economic growth and development.
The summit aims to address these challenges with the African Union.
Ramaphosa will also leverage South Africa’s G20 presidency, of which Japan is a member, to pursue bilateral economic engagements, strengthening trade and investment ties between South Africa and Japan.
In his capacity as Chair of the Global Leaders’ Network for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health, Ramaphosa will address parliamentarians, businesses, and development agencies on the importance of increasing public healthcare investments as a cornerstone for development, peace, and security.
Japan, effectively tied with India as the world’s fourth-largest economy with a GDP of $4 trillion this year, has long-standing economic relations with South Africa.
These ties date back to South Africa’s establishment as a Union in 1910, with Japanese companies maintaining investments even during Apartheid-era sanctions.
Trade expanded further following the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992.
The Northeast Asian island nation, known locally as Nippon, is a major investor in the South African economy, contributing over R90 billion through 260 Japanese companies, sustaining more than 150,000 local jobs.
Total bilateral trade between the two countries reached R132 billion in 2024, with South Africa recording a trade surplus of R52 billion.
The President’s delegation includes Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Dr. Bonginkosi Blade Nzimande, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla, and other senior government officials.
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