The Japanese Government has announced plans to boost cooperation with Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries by investing about $30 billion in Nigeria and others between now and year 2025.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, made this disclosure at an event organized by the Japanese Embassy to commemorate the 63rd birthday of the Emperor of Japan, Hironomiya Naruhito, in Abuja.
The Envoy explained that his home government was also planning to increase Japanese companies’ investments in Nigeria to strengthen Japan’s bilateral cooperation with the country and improve Nigeria’s business environment for mutual benefits of the countries.
While expressing optimism that the imminent change of government in Nigeria will further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries, the Kazuyoshi said: “Taking this opportunity, I would like to take you through some of our achievements over the past year. Last August, the Japanese government, along with African and international partners co-hosted the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8)
“Japan aspires to be a partner growing together with Africa, focusing on people as individuals, and more specifically, ‘investing in people’ and ‘quality growth’
“Japan will promote its initiatives with approaches quintessentially Japanese. Over the next three years, Japan is going to invest 20 billion dollars from public and private financial contributions in Africa, including Nigeria”< the Envoy added.
Expatiating further on recent initiatives undertaken to improve the two countries’ bilateral relations, the Ambassador recalled that the two countries just organized the 2nd Japan Nigeria Business Facilitation Council meeting shortly before the TICAD 8, adding that “the aim is to increase Japanese investments in Nigeria.”
