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Japan is to double its development aid to Africa

The Japanese government would double its aid to Africa over the next five years to try to boost development on the continent, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said yesterday. The announcement came ahead of a May 28-30 conference hosted by Japan and aimed at supporting Africa’s development, as rival China increases its presence on the continent through massive aid and oil-linked investment.

Japan’s aid to Africa now averages 100 billion yen (US960 million; €616 million) a year. Fukuda said Tokyo would double it to 200 billion yen (US1.9 billion; €1.2 billion) over the next five years.

In 2006 China rolled out the red carpet for leaders from almost 50 African nations for the first summit between Chinese and African officials, highlighting vigorous ties entered around oil and development aid.

During the 2006 meeting, Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged to double aid to Africa by 2009 from its 2006 level. Hu promised billions of dollars in aid and loans.

China imports 32% of its oil from Africa. Oil producers Angola, Nigeria, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo absorb more than 60% of China’s direct investment to Africa. Japan’s government and private sector, however, have made little effort to build ties until recently.

Japanese assistance to Africa would mainly be used to promote agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure projects, a foreign ministry official said . “With an increase in ODA (official development assistance) to Africa, we would like to show our leadership in promoting development in Africa,” the official said.

The announcement came even though Japan has cut official development assistance. Japan, once the world’s No 2 international aid donor after the United States, now ranks fifth after Germany, France and England. — Sapa AP