summary
Conference Title: “Developing Human Resources in the Public and Private Sectors to Build Business Bridges between Africa and Japan
Date: December 17, 2024
Organized by JICA
Location: Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire
Main Participants
participant
About 250 participants of the Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum, media, etc.
speaker
Opening/closing remarks and moderator:
Director, Japan Center, Alban Aure, Université Felix Uffe-Bowany
Keynote and wrap-up:
Stellenbosch University Scarlett Cornelissen Head of Japan Corner
Panelists
Toshiyuki Nakamura, Special Assistant to the President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Masanori Imai, Chairman and Representative Director, Toda Corporation
Kenichi Kishi, General Manager, ITOCHU Corporation, Representative of Japanese Companies in Cote d’Ivoire
Chief Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Côte d’Ivoire Toka Arsen Cobéa
Thierry Badoux, Director General of Investment Promotion, Investment Agency of Côte d’Ivoire
Hermann Nicoué, Deputy Director, Youth Employment Agency, Côte d’Ivoire
*Mr. Diawara, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Cote d’Ivoire, was in attendance and spoke after the panel discussion.
Background and Objectives
Purpose
1 . Clarification of challenges and responses of both Japan and Africa to promote Japanese companies’ expansion into Africa and Cote d’Ivoire
Clarification of issues and responses on both sides to promote Japanese companies’ expansion into Africa and Cote d’Ivoire 2. Reaffirmation of the importance of human resource development in the public and private sectors (including the use of JICA’s ABE Initiative) to promote investment
Reaffirmation of the importance of human resource development in the public and private sectors (including the use of JICA’s ABE Initiative) to promote investment 3. Promote awareness of Toda Corporation’s project for human resource development, promote collaboration between Japanese and Korean officials, and promote understanding and secure cooperation from the Côte d’Ivoire side for the project’s future concept of becoming a Japan Center.
background
Although African countries continue to record high growth rates due to population bonuses and other factors, and the market tends to expand, a lack of human resources is an issue for investment in Africa. In particular, Japanese companies are unfamiliar with the society, institutions, and language of French-speaking countries, and the hurdles to investment are not low. In order to lower this hurdle, it is believed that fostering excellent African human resources who can “connect” Japan and Africa is one of the keys to attracting Japanese investment and creating local employment. This side event was organized to discuss the necessity of human resource development as a concrete measure for this purpose, and to clarify through discussion what role each of the actors concerned should play and how they should cooperate with each other in the future human resource development.
Contents
- opening remarks
Professor Aure, Uffe-Bowani University
The moderator of the panel discussion, Professor Aure of Uffe-Bowani University, explained the purpose and objectives of the event, and expressed his expectations for the event.
Keynote Speech
Professor Cornelissen, Stellenbosch University
Based on his research on Japanese ODA over the past 70 years, Professor Cornelissen of Stellenbosch University explained Japan’s investment initiatives in Africa, as seen from Japanese companies’ expansion into Africa. He also introduced the Stellenbosch University Japan Center as an example of multi-stakeholder partnership in higher education for human resource development, and explained the approach to develop human resources to serve as a bridge between Africa and Japan in the future.
- panel discussion
Overall Panel Discussion
Professor Aure of the University of Oufe-Boigny served as moderator, and three panelists, including representatives from JICA and the private sector, and three representatives from the government of Cote d’Ivoire, discussed the following two topics.
Investment Opportunities and Challenges for Japanese Companies in Africa
The Necessity and Challenges of Developing Human Resources to “Connect” Africa and Japan
From left to right: Mr. Cobéa, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology; Mr. Nicué, Deputy Director General of the Youth Employment Agency; Mr. Badou, Director General of the Investment Promotion Department of the Investment Agency; and Mr. Toda Imai, Chairman of Toda Construction Co.
Regarding each theme, for example, from the Japanese side, the importance of co-creating with Africa in order for Japan and Africa to conduct win-win development was mentioned. He also mentioned that the attractiveness of the African market for Japanese companies lies in the large number of young people and the abundance of resources, and that he would like to see the development of laws and transparency regarding PPP (public-private partnerships) to promote investment. In addition, he stated that human resource development in Africa is vital, and that it is important to include aspects such as the transmission of culture in such development.
From left, Special Assistant to the President Nakamura, Mr. Kishi, Prof. Cornelissen, Prof. Aure
From the Cote d’Ivoire side, the government of Cote d’Ivoire stated that the government of Cote d’Ivoire is focusing on the development of young people and has begun efforts to strengthen the integration of education and the job market, and that it is ready to strengthen cooperation with Japan and institutionalize a co-creation framework.
- introduction of events by the City of Yokohama
Director Yanagisawa, Global Network Promotion Department, International Bureau, City of Yokohama
The Yokohama International Bureau also took the stage to inform the audience of the TICAD 9 to be held in Yokohama in 2025 and the International Horticultural Exposition (GREEN x EXPO) in 2027. Also introduced were City Councilor Sato, President of the Japan-Africa Friendship Yokohama Aldermen’s Association, former Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Japan Ware, and others who had accompanied the Yokohama International Bureau to the event.
- wrap-up and closing remarks
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Diawara
In closing, Mr. Diawara, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, took the podium to express his gratitude for hosting this event and to reiterate the importance that the government of Cote d’Ivoire attaches to human resource development. The Minister concluded the event by expressing his expectations for the future linkage between the public and private sectors in Japan and Cote d’Ivoire, and for the development of human resources to serve as a bridge between the two countries. He concluded the event.
This event reaffirmed the importance of human resource development in the public and private sectors for promoting investment in Africa. JICA will continue to support the promotion of investment in Africa by engaging in a wide range of activities in African countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, which is attracting increasing attention for investment in the future. JICA will continue to support the promotion of investment in Africa by engaging in a wide range of activities.
© Source JICA
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