The upcoming conference on African development in Yokohama will showcase opportunities in resource-rich African countries that are hoping to build strategic partnerships with Japan, according to Gabon's ambassador to Japan.
"Why a strategic partnership? Because Africa has a lot to offer to Japan," Ambassador Jean Christian Obame said during a recent interview ahead of the May 28 to 30 Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama.
Japan launched the TICAD initiative in 1993 to put Africa's issues on the international agenda and to discuss measures to meet basic human needs and promote economic growth in Africa.