Business trend:
Japan will hold a conference with cabinet
members of major resource-rich African countries to discuss the development
of natural resources in Tokyo next May. The conference will be participated by
such international agencies as the World Bank and African Development Bank and private
companies. About 10 African countries including South Africa, Ghana, and
Madagascar are expected to participate in the conference, and Japan wishes to
reach an agreement with them on resource exploration.
After the Fukushima disaster, demand for
fuel for thermal power generation is growing rapidly in Japan. And the Japanese
government is eager to develop the African market for coal and oil. Such
subjects as infrastructure improvement wit the help of official development aid
and developing human resources from Africa to let them study Japanese
environment-conscious technology will be discussed. China is ahead of Japan in
resource development in Africa. China invested 15 billion dollars in Africa
between 2008 and 2011, whereas Japan invested only 2 billion dollars in the
same period. African countries are worried about the development by China from
the viewpoint of environment destruction and disparagement of workers’ safety. They
eagerly wish Japan to increase its presence in Africa.
