Egypt is participating in the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) Summit that is held at Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya on 27th -28th August 2016. Ibrahim Mahlab the presidential adviser for national and strategic projects leads the Egyptian delegation which includes high-rank officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones.  

This will be the first time TICAD is being held in Africa since its inception in 1993. The decision to host TICAD VI Summit in Africa was reached during the TICAD V Summit in 2013 when it was approved that the venue of the next TICAD Summits be alternated between Japan and Africa.  The interval of summit meetings was also shortened from every five years to three years. 

Substance and Focus of TICAD VI

- It is important to emphasize that unlike other high end summits, whose value citizens in Africa sometimes question, the ‘TICAD process’ has been structured to offer greater value because of its focus on sectors and issues that clearly affect a good majority of Africans. For instance, TICAD VI is monitoring and following on specific progress made around the critical areas that were earmarked under TICAD V; namely: economic growth; infrastructure development; agriculture and farming; peace and security in Africa.

- It is further hoped that a Nairobi Declaration will specifically commit our leaders to the important development agenda that advances economic growth issues; industrialization, resilient health systems as well as social stability for shared prosperity.

- It has to be emphasized that a key objective of TICAD is presently to cascade the African ownership of its own vision of growth and development. For this reason, one key player in TICAD VI is the African Union through the African Union Commission who has since 2013, spearheaded the policy and implementation framework now officially known as ‘Agenda 2063 following on the decisions and agreements by the African Heads of State in marking the previous 50 years of African unity.

- In brief, Agenda 2063 targets greater continental integration; prosperity and growth; good governance and the rule of law; the commonality of an African purpose through a shared cultural identity; a people-driven development; peace and security, as well as, positioning Africa as a greater global player.  

Delegates and Attendance


- The Nairobi Summit is graced by the distinguished presence of non-other than the Prime Minister of Japan: H.E. (Mr) Shinzo Abe and officially opened by Kenyan President H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta;

- The Summit and conference is attended by African heads of state and governments, as well as representatives of the global development finance community, foreign ministers and other political figures.

- The event, for the first time in its history, has an interactive session between heads of state and representatives of business and the private sector. It also features representation from other national and continental stakeholder groups; including from Africa’s civil society organizations. There are numerous side events, symposia; business forums and exhibitions.  

Egypt's Participation

- Presidential Aide Ibrahim Mahlab on Saturday 27/8/2016 conferred with Sudanese Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh in Nairobi on the sidelines of TICAD VI. The meeting tackled peace and security issues in the Arab and African regions. 

- Mahlab conferred with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on the sidelines of TICAD VI. The meeting tackled means of boosting bilateral relations in various fields like agriculture by importing Kenyan meat and tea. The Kenyan president expressed his keenness to visit Egypt soon. 

- Mahlab held bilateral meetings with the presidents of Guinea and Equatorial Guinea. He also participated in meetings that tackled the economic structural transformation in Africa by varying the sources. Mahlab confirmed in his statement to the summit that the relation between Japan and Africa is a great opportunity to achieve development in Africa. 

- Minister of Public Sector Affairs Ashraf el Sharkawy met with president of Mitsubishi and its board members on Sunday 28/8/2016 and discussed means of promoting mutual cooperation in the field of upgrading public sector heavy industries. The two sides tackled Mitsubishi readiness to provide technical training for Egyptian workers along with providing modern techniques to upgrade factories in Egypt.

TICAD VI Nairobi Declaration 

Nairobi Implementation Plan

Sources:

TICAD VI Website

 MENA