Maseru, Lesotho – In a significant development for bilateral relations, His Excellency Mr. Ushio Shigeru, the Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Lesotho, presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Letsie III on June 15, 2023. The ambassador’s visit included paying courtesies to The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, the Honourable Lejone Mpotjoana.
The longstanding cooperation between Lesotho and Japan is fostered through the Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development (TICAD). Established in 1993, TICAD serves as a platform for Japan and African countries to collaborate on economic and development priorities. Its objective is to enhance bilateral cooperation and strategize on ways to intensify economic ties.
The TICAD process involves multiple stakeholders, including governments, international and regional organizations, the business sector, and civil society organizations (CSOs). Key participants include the African Union Commission, the United Nations Office for the Special Advisor on Africa (UNOSSA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank. Each actor brings its unique strengths to support African development.
The most recent TICAD Summit took place in Tunis, Tunisia from August 27 to 28, 2022. During the event, the Government of Japan made several commitments for the current cycle of TICAD, demonstrating its dedication to assisting African countries. The pledges include:
- Providing an overall USD 30 billion to African countries.
- Offering training opportunities for 300,000 Africans across various professions, including industries crucial for the future of African countries such as health, education, agriculture, justice, and administration.
- Allocating USD 4 billion to Japan’s Green Growth Initiative with African countries.
- Granting 10 billion Japanese Yen to support Japanese businesses’ establishment in Africa.
- Providing USD 5 billion through the African Development Bank for the comprehensive development of the private sector.
- Making a new contribution of up to USD 1.8 billion to the Global Fund for tackling infectious diseases.
- Offering food assistance of USD 130 million to build resilient and sustainable societies in the face of rising food and energy prices.
Lesotho and Japan have maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1971, and their partnership has steadily strengthened over the years. The two countries have collaborated extensively on bilateral and multilateral levels, focusing on areas such as climate change, infrastructural development, food security, and capacity building.
