The Chief Representative of JICA, South Africa Office, Mr. Hiroyuki Kinomoto met with SADC Executive Secretary Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax on November 25, 2016 to discuss on a number of issues of common interest to the two organization.
The two parties discussed the outcomes of TICAD VI where the Government of Japan announced commitment to invest approximately US$ 30 billion under public-private partnership, for the future of Africa through developing quality infrastructure, building resilient health systems and laying the foundations for peace and stability. The three pillars of cooperation under TICAD VI are (1) Economic Diversification and Industrialization; (2) Promoting Resilient Health systems for Quality Life; and (3) Promoting social Stability for Shared Prosperity.
The two parties affirmed that the areas of cooperation under TICAD VI are in line with SADC priorities as outlined in the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and explored how SADC can benefit under the TICAD VI Nairobi Implementation Plan in order to implement the SADC Industrialization Strategy and the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan. Emphasis was placed on the need to prepare concrete projects to be implemented under TICAD VI and, among others, it was agreed to prioritize One Stop Border Post (OSBP) could be a quick win project under infrastructure. As a way forward, it was agreed that JICA Experts would visit the SADC Secretariat in the first quarter of 2017 to discuss and prepare the scope of cooperation between SADC and Japan, under TICAD VI.
The meeting also discussed the status of on-going technical support on SADC-Japan Cooperation under which JICA is providing technical support to the SADC- Development Finance Resource Centre and the project for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forest Resources in Southern Africa. It was also noted that JICA is preparing to launch the Second Edition of OSBP Sourcebook, at the Regional and national level. The Executive Secretary thanked the Government of Japan and JICA for the for the cooperation and support provided to the SADC Region under Japan's bilateral cooperation with SADC Member States and cooperation at regional level.
The JICA representative was accompanied by Mr. Akihiko Hoshino, Resident Representative, JICA Botswana Office and Ms. Yurie Komine, Assistant Representative, JICA South Africa Office.
