The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held from August 20- 22 in Yokohama, brought leaders from 49 African countries to Japan to discuss development projects as well as related issues, such as protectionism and unfavorable financial structures, that make economic development more difficult than it has to be.
Sponsored by the Japanese government since 1993. TICAD is co-hosted by the United Nations (UN), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Bank. Representatives from the private sector, civic organizations and environmental groups also participate in TICAD.
This year’s conference resulted in the Yokohama Declaration, which emphasizes the importance of access to advanced technology, affordable finance, free trade and organizations that promote investment by the private sector – for example, the Japan Business Council for Africa and the Japan-Africa Infrastructure Development Association.
