Japan Proposes $5.5 Billion Indian Ocean-Africa Economic Zone at TICAD 9

At the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed creating an economic zone linking the Indian Ocean region with Africa to boost business, investment, and free trade, aiming to strengthen Japan's role amid decreasing American presence and growing Chinese influence. Japan pledged concessional loans of up to $5.5 billion in partnership with the African Development Bank to support infrastructure and sustainable development, addressing African debt concerns. Ishiba emphasized a shift from aid to investment, highlighting commitments from Japanese companies and plans to develop the Nacala Corridor to improve connectivity for landlocked nations. Japan also committed to training 300,000 people over three years, including 30,000 AI specialists, while aiming to enhance education for 10 million children in Africa. The summit, attended by leaders from about 50 African countries and international organizations, focused on economic growth, peace, health, climate change, and education, with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calling for greater African representation and investment in climate solutions. These initiatives come as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and aid cuts have affected African development, while China continues expanding its infrastructure investments across the continent.