Monday, November 1st, 2004
GDLN Demonstration Links Japan, Ethiopia and South Africa at Asia-Africa Trade and Investment Confer
(l-r) Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nakagawa, Foreign Minister Machimura, and World Bank Vice President and Special Representative, Japan, Yukio Yoshimura
Japan's Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa were the guests of honor at a reception this evening held as part of the two-day Asia-Africa Trade and Investment Conference (AATIC). World Bank Vice President and Special Representative to Japan, Yukio Yoshimura joined the ministers onstage to introduce the GDLN to the 500 guests assembled in the Crystal Palace ballroom of the Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo.
Initiated as a follow-up to last year's third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), AATIC was attended by delegates from 50 African nations and 14 countries in Asia, as well as delegates from international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. The two-day conference was opened by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Mr. Yoshimura, Minister Nakagawa, and Minister Machimura onscreen with Dr. Konare in Ethiopia (center, top screen) and Ms. Shope-Linney (third from left, lower screen)
The reception was organized by the Government of Japan, the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor for Africa, the Global Coalition for Africa, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Program.
At the reception Foreign Minister Machimura spoke of the TDLC's core role in the Africa-Asia Public-Private Network, one of the follow-up activities coming out of TICAD III. Mr. Yoshimura then spoke on the GDLN and its role in helping to forge a "knowledge corridor between Asia and Africa."
500 guests assembled in the Crystal Palace ballroom of the Akasaka Prince Hotel
The TDLC coordinated live connections with the GDLN Center in Ethiopia and the World Bank office in South Africa for the duration of the reception, and the videoconference was projected over the stage for the guests to see. His Excellency Dr. Alpha Oumar Konare, Chair of the Commission of the African Union and former president of Mali, spoke from Ethiopia. Ms. Thaninga Shope-Linney, Head of Communications and Marketing for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) delivered remarks from South Africa.
Following Mr. Yoshimura's demonstration and the speeches from Ms. Shope-Linney and Dr. Konare, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nakagawa led the guests in Tokyo and Africa in a toast to continued and strengthened friendship and business between Africa and Asia.
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Related Links:
Ticad.net Tokyo conference proposes roadmap to foster trade and investment
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, TICAD III site
The World Bank, Africa Regional Program on Enterprise Development
Prime Minister Koizumi's opening remarks at AATIC
