Japan has pledged to contribute $30 billion over three years to support Africa’s development and economy as it seeks to enhance cooperation with Africa amid China’s growing influence.
“Japan aspires to be a partner growing together with Africa,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a virtual address to the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development on Saturday.
Of those funds, Kishida said that Japan would invest over 10 billion yen ($72 million) in African startups and provide training to 300,000 Africans in various sectors over three years for human resource development.
The Japanese government will also provide $130 million in food aid and co-finance a $300 million loan with the African Development Bank to boost food production amid the global food and energy crisis….