The fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development opened Saturday with a look back over the forum's past 20 years, discussions about the future and a pledge by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of ¥3.2 trillion in aid to the continent.
"Over the next five years, Japan will support African growth through public and private funds totaling ¥3.2 trillion, including official development assistance of around ¥1.4 trillion and other public and private resources of around ¥1.6 trillion," Abe vowed at TICAD V. "We will also underwrite a maximum of ¥200 billion in trade insurance."
The money will be used, the prime minister added, in areas that African nations judge the most urgent. These include further developing infrastructure, business-savvy human resources, health, agriculture and education.