Malawi Pres. Banda leaves for Addis Ababa, to proceed to Japan

President Joyce Banda leaves the country for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the African Union Summit and will proceed to Tokyo, Japan for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

Presidential press secretary, Steve Nhlane, said in a statement that the President will join fellow African Heads of State and Government at the 21st Ordinary Session of the assembly where African leaders will assess and enhance efforts towards achieving integration, prosperity and peace in Africa, driven by the continent. The Summit will take place from 26 – 27 May, 2013.

”At the summit the President will deliver a speech on 25 May the Africa Day, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union, addressing themes such as democracy, rule of law, political stability and economic integration.

From Ethiopia, President Banda will proceed to Tokyo, Japan, for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

TICAD is a major global forum to promote development on the African continent under the principles of African ownership and international partnership. The objectives of TICAD are to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and their partners, and to mobilise support for African-owned development initiatives.

Japan and its African partners believe that the priorities for economic and social development should be determined by African countries themselves, and that development should be pursued under a common framework for cooperation among all development actors.

During the last TICAD Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda committed his government to extending US$ 4 billion and financial assistance totalling US$ 2.5 billion over the next five years.

These concepts became essential factors in the launch of the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), a strategy for development designed by Africans themselves.

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