Japan Commits $5.5Billion to Africa AI Growth

At the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba unveiled an ambitious initiative to strengthen Africa’s economic partnerships. He proposed the creation of an “Indian Ocean–Africa economic zone,” designed to connect African nations with economies across the Indian Ocean, including India and the Middle East.

Japan committed $5.5 billion in loans through the African Development Bank to support sustainable development and ease Africa’s rising debt challenges. In addition, Tokyo announced a programme to train 30,000 AI specialists within three years to drive digital transformation and expand employment opportunities across the continent.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres reinforced the call by urging broader global reforms.:

“Africa must have a stronger voice in shaping the decisions that affect its future. That includes long overdue reform of the Security Council, where, incredibly, Africa has no permanent member … and an overhaul of today’s unjust and unfair international financial architecture that must enhance African representation and endorse a strong African voice in the decisions being made.”

Japan Commits $5.5Billion to Africa AI Growth. Credit: Africa News

Meanwhile, Angola’s President and African Union Chair, João Lourenço, acknowledged the critical financial hurdles facing the continent:

“The African continent continues to face persistent barriers and limited, complex access to international financing … many African countries have been rated as high-risk borrowers, making them barely eligible for low-cost capital. Yet such capital is absolutely essential for investment in infrastructure, electrification, industrialization, and technological advancement.”

TICAD 9, attended by representatives from nearly 50 African nations and global organisations, marks Japan’s latest bid to reassert its influence in Africa at a time of waning U.S. engagement and rising Chinese presence. The summit focuses on cooperation in the economy, peace, health, education, and climate, and will conclude with the adoption of a “Yokohama Declaration” later in the week.

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