TICAD 9 Overview and Achievements
The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) was held from August 20-21, 2025, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Co-chaired by Prime Minister Ishiba and President João Lourenço of the Republic of Angola (Chairperson of the African Union), the conference brought together representatives from 100 countries and regions, including 49 African countries, along with international organizations, development partners, private companies, and civil society, making it the largest TICAD in history. As a conference outcome, a total of 324 documents of understanding were confirmed and presented, marking a new stage in Japan-Africa economic and development cooperation.
Adoption of Yokohama Declaration and Japan's Support Commitment
The conference adopted the "TICAD Yokohama Declaration 2025," providing guidance for future African development. Prime Minister Ishiba announced Japan's commitment to contribute an average of approximately $35 billion annually through public and private sectors combined over the next three years, promising strong support for Africa's sustainable development. This support will be implemented through specific programs including the "Japan-Africa Industrial Co-creation Initiative," the "AI and Data Science Human Resource Development and Africa's Economic Growth Initiative," and the "Indian Ocean-Africa Economic Zone Initiative." Enhanced finance support through collaboration between Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) and international development finance institutions was also announced.
Addressing Multifaceted Development Challenges
TICAD 9 addressed a wide range of development challenges beyond economic growth, including health, education, agriculture, and climate change countermeasures. "Investment in people" was particularly emphasized, with quality education promotion, human resource development in AI and data science fields, and health system strengthening designated as priority areas. From a food security perspective, support for agricultural productivity improvement and supply chain enhancement was also announced. Regarding climate change countermeasures, decarbonization cooperation with African countries including South Africa advanced, with support for clean energy transition promised.
Success of Japan-Africa Startup Exhibition
The Japan-Africa Startup Exhibition, held alongside TICAD 9, featured participation from 194 companies: 111 Japanese companies and 83 African companies, showcasing innovative business solutions. The exhibition provided opportunities for Japanese and African startups to explore collaboration in fields such as agricultural technology, fintech, healthcare, and educational technology, resulting in multiple successful business matchings. This exhibition served as a concrete outcome of TICAD 9's characteristic public-private partnerships, becoming an important opportunity to promote private sector-led growth in Africa.