The Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) Summit will be held at Kenyatta International Convention Center in Nairobi, Kenya on 27th -28th August 2016. This will be the first time TICAD is being held in Africa since its inception in 1993.
Dar Es Salaam, Aug 27, 2016/- The decision to host TICAD VI Summit in Africa was reached during the TICAD V Summit in 2013 when it was agreed that the venue of subsequent TICAD Summits be alternated between Japan and Africa. The interval of summit Meetings was also shortened from every 5 years to three (3) years.
It is indeed a great honour and privilege for Kenya and Africa in general to host the first ever TICAD Summit in the continent. It is a major milestone and indeed a big boost towards achieving a more strategic partnership with Japan that we all desire. More importantly, however, it underscores the spirit of partnership and ownership which underpinned the very principles of the formation of TICAD in 1993.
“I take this early opportunity to welcome our distinguished delegates to ‘the City in the sun;’ said Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya in his welcome message.
“I applaud the Government of Japan and especially Prime Minister Abe, for being at the forefront of delivering TICAD’s unique agenda in Africa. The TICAD initiative and process has clearly given Kenya and Africa one of the most important global platforms for re-focusing our quest for development among other critical issues; including the contemporary world threat posed by violent extremism. Indeed, TICAD’s traditional focus on the critical livelihood issues; notably, economic growth; agriculture and farming as well as social stability do themselves remain as important.” He added.
He said that he is especially delighted that the hosting in Nairobi and other subsequent African capitals – as will be agreed for the future – will strengthen the need for greater African ownership of the TICAD initiative as well as that of the continent’s own destiny and developmental agenda.
