President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading a high-level South African delegation to the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), taking place in Yokohama, Japan, from Wednesday until August 22. 

The summit, themed “Co-creating Innovative Solutions With Africa,” comes amid growing global instability, rising energy and food prices, and economic pressures that continue to strain developing countries.

“This 9th TICAD Summit takes place at a time of unprecedented threats to global peace and security, ongoing conflicts in some regions of the world, distortions and disruption to global trade and a concerning revision by some states to unilateral action at a time when multilateralism and collective solutions to common challenges is crucial,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

“Rising fuel, food and energy prices have severely impacted developing countries, entrenching poverty and fuelling higher levels of inequality in the face of constrained employment and job opportunities.”

Magwenya said the debt and liquidity crisis on the African continent is worsening the challenging socio-economic environment and constraining the fiscal space for governments to cast a safety net over their citizens.

South Africa will use the summit to advocate for Japanese support of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, which focuses on infrastructure, peace and security, and healthcare.

“The AU discussions with the government of Japan under the auspices of TICAD present an opportunity for the two sides to engage in discussions that seek to foster collective solutions to these challenges,” Magwenya said.

Ramaphosa is also expected to push for stronger trade and investment ties between South Africa and Japan during bilateral meetings with Japanese officials. The visit also forms part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

The two countries are marking 115 years of diplomatic relations this year. Japan is a major investor in the South African economy, with over R90 billion invested across 260 companies, supporting more than 150,000 jobs.

Total trade between the two countries reached R132 billion in 2024, with South Africa recording a trade surplus of R52 billion, said Magwenya. 

Ramaphosa will also address Japanese business leaders, as well as a side event in his capacity as chair of the Global Leaders’ Network for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health, where he will call for greater investment in health as a foundation for peace and development.

He is accompanied by several Cabinet members, including International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande, Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau, Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, and senior government officials.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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