The head of Japan’s aid agency has reiterated the strong bilateral aid relationship between the country and Africa amid reports that Japanese officials, unlike their Chinese counterparts, received the cold shoulder from African policymakers in a recent meeting by the African Development Bank.
Sadako Ogata, president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, brushed aside insinuations that Japan’s development assistance is being overlooked by African authorities since China began directing its aid, trade and investment to the region.
Japan has been increasing its aid to Africa in the past years, even pledging to double its aid to the region to $1.8 billion next year despite the huge economic impact of the recent earthquake and tsunami. Japan will be focusing on boosting economic growth, ensuring human security, and mitigating climate change in the region.
China-Africa trade, meanwhile, reportedly reached an estimated $100 billion in 2010, driven by Chinese demand for oil, gas, and other raw materials, the ”Poverty Matters” blog reports.
Africa has also been a major destination of Chinese aid.
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