The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) hosted an official side event and a special event related to the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) held in Yokohama on August 19 and 20, 2025.
This event brought together heads of state and government; ministers from Japan and Africa, representatives of international organizations, and researchers.
At the events, participants actively discussed the current challenges and potential opportunities for collaboration between Japan and Africa under the theme of enhancing food security and promoting a sustainable blue economy.
On August 20, participants showcased examples of initiatives for achieving food security and sustainable growth through agriculture and the blue economy.
They exchanged views about the importance of Japan’s technological cooperation and human resource development.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, said Japan “will achieve further growth by enhancing regional connectivity and promoting trade and investment,” emphasizing that “Japan will make joint efforts and embrace the vitality of Africa.”
SPF President Atsushi Sunami said, “Strengthening the resilience of food systems is the top priority,” citing three challenges faced by Africa — population growth, climate change, and geopolitical tensions.
Meanwhile, SPF Honorary Chair Yohei Sasakawa said, “We want to work hard hand in hand with Africa to achieve a prosperous future together.”
Participants from the African side emphasized the importance of cooperation with Japan, highlighting their views such as a strategic priority on agriculture and the blue economy by the prime minister of the Republic of Cabo Verde, promoting a national strategy for the blue economy by a government minister of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
Transforming agriculture and the blue economy into growth industries led by young people was empathized by the African Union Commission.
During another event on August 19, participants exchanged views on strategies to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth through public and private investments as well as the utilization of international finance.
They presented specific proposals on ways to ensure community empowerment and raise funds, highlighting the possibilities for practical coordination linking policies with on-the-ground initiatives.
In February 2023, Uganda validated its National Blue Economy Strategy for 2023-2027 at an event coordinated by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
On that day, Minister of State for Animal Industry, Lt. Col. (rtd) Dr. Rwamirama Bright stated that the blue economy is certainly of strategic importance to the country especially that it provides opportunities for fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, oil and gas, energy and minerals, water transport and environment sustainability.
“The blue economy strategy we are validating today proposes interventions for conservation and sustainability of fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic ecosystems,” he said.
“It combines a deeper analysis of the challenges and proposes strategic intervention areas for sustainably increasing fish production and productivity from fisheries and aquaculture.”
The IGAD Head of Mission to Uganda, Lucy Daxbacher noted that “IGAD in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment has been working for the last four months on developing a national blue economy strategy for Uganda.”
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