Yokohama, Japan, Aug. 19, 2025 (Lusa) - The president of Mozambique and the prime minister of Cabo Verde are among the African leaders participating in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), taking place this week in Yokohama.
With the theme “Strengthening partnerships for the sustainable development of the African continent”, the conference brings together dozens of political, academic and financial figures, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, to discuss Japan’s support for African development. The Japanese government and the World Bank organise it.
The president of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, is leading the delegation, which includes the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Transport and Logistics, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Health.
“On the sidelines of the summit, the president will hold meetings with the prime minister of Japan, government officials, parliamentarians and Japanese business leaders with interests in Mozambique, as well as with the Mozambican community residing in Japan,” according to a press release from the Mozambican presidency.
Cabo Verde will also be represented at a high level by Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva, who will speak at the event on “Building a Resilient Food System and Local Economy in Africa, anchored in the Blue Economy and Agriculture”, organised by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, which Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will also attend.
“This event aims to strengthen international cooperation in strategic sectors such as the sustainable blue economy, marine resource management and agriculture, areas in which Cabo Verde and Japan can take the lead at regional and international level,” according to a statement from the Cabo Verde government, which also said that the head of government will hold several “bilateral meetings, including a meeting with his Japanese counterpart”.
According to the Japanese press, the government and local companies expect to sign more than 300 memoranda of understanding with African political leaders and business leaders who have travelled to Yokohama, near Tokyo, to attend the conference.
According to the Nikkei news agency, these memoranda aim to help African governments import Japanese products in various areas, including health and agriculture, through tariff reductions or even exemptions.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba argued in an opinion piece published in African Business magazine that TICAD is more than a forum, “it is a vibrant and living platform for forging deeper partnerships, generating innovative solutions and building a common vision for a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa and the world.”
In the article, the Japanese head of government points to three objectives for the meeting: to boost sustainable economic growth through private sector leadership, to empower young people and women, and to strengthen regional integration and connectivity.
“To achieve sustainable development and an inclusive society through these approaches, it is crucial to promote peace and stability,” the prime minister writes, concluding that “Japan continues to collaborate with African countries and strongly supports Africa’s own initiatives to strengthen peace and stability on the continent.”
TICAD runs from Wednesday to Friday, with dozens of meetings and debates on Africa’s development.
MBA/ADB // ADB.
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