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TICAD Process; How it is assisting Africa
By James Baba, Ambassador of Uganda to Japan
Over the years since 1993, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development - TICAD process has been good to Africa
in that it has drawn international attention to Africa on its problems of
poverty and on the many challenges of underdevelopment. Credit must go to
Japan and to the co-organisers the World Bank, UNDP and the Global Coalition
for Africa for the contribution they have made in bringing about the focus on
Africa.
Africa however still remains mired in abject poverty and many of its
underdevelopment challenges still remain unresolved, making it the poorest
region in the world.
Out of the TICAD process must come a very clear message from the
international community but especially from the developed economies that
Africa must not be left to continue lagging behind. Africa needs support to
develop the necessary capacities that will enable it to stand on its feet. It
is absolutely necessary to do this and there are various ways to do this.
For Uganda in particular, a key factor in this is for Africa to have
an increasing share of the global market place. Without subsidies on
agricultural products such as cotton, sugar, beef and dairy for example, by
the developed economies, Africa's share of the global trade could be greatly
enhanced. An increase of a global market share of up to 10% from the present
paltry 2% could translate into huge incomes for the peoples and governments of
Africa.
In Japan for example, Africa's exports to Japan is only about 1% of
total Japanese imports. In 2002, Japan imported goods and services worth
about \42.9 trillions and Africa's 1% share of this was only about \4.1
billion. Imagine for a second if Africa's share of the Japanese market had
risen to 10%, it is obvious that the incomes and benefits derived would more
than offset the current ODA funding Africa receives from the Japanese
government.
Our future therefore lies in trade, Aid can only be supportive. The
international community must rise to this challenge.
The Japanese government should do more to facilitate market access for
African products into the Japanese market and to provide incentives for
Japanese investors to come to Africa. The US$300 million 5year JBIC Fund
initiated by Prime Minister Koizumi in 2003 is a good start. This Fund set up
to support Japanese businessmen interested in doing business with Africa
should be made widely known to the Japanese Business community who may not be
aware of its existence.
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