Group Photo: Front row (from left): Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation; H.E.Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of Namibia; H.E.William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E.Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan; H.E. Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde; H.E.Soares Sambu, Minister of Guinea-Bissau; Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair, The Nippon Foundation.Back row (from left): Dr. Masanori Kobayashi, Senior Research Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation; H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for ARBE, African Union Commission; Dr. Takashi Matsumoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan; Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of Agriculture and Agro Industry, African Development Bank; Dr. Amit Roy, Chair, Sasakawa Africa Association.  

On Friday, August 20, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30, a TICAD9 official side event was held at PACIFICO Yokohama. Titled "Building Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems and Local Economies in Africa anchored in the Blue Economy and Agriculture," the event was organized by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) in cooperation with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA). The meeting brought together leaders from key institutions driving African agriculture to discuss the transformation of the continent's food systems. Over an hour and a half, a lively discussion was held, based on the shared understanding that the roles of youth and women, the integration of the blue economy with agriculture, and partnerships that deliver tangible results are all essential.

The event began with opening remarks from Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, followed by a guest address from Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and SAA. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba then gave a special address, emphasizing the importance of the partnership between Japan and Africa. A high-level discussion followed on the theme, "Promoting a Sustainable Blue Economy and Agriculture in Africa: Strengthening Capacities and International Collaboration." Panelists for this discussion included H.E. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Mr. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cabo Verde; H.E. Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia; H.E. Soares Sambú, Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Integration of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau; and Mr. Hisashi Matsumoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission, who was invited by SAA, stated that "TICAD9 is a vital opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Africa and Japan to improve Africa's food security and youth empowerment." He stressed the necessity of transforming the agricultural sector into a youth-centered one, utilizing the blue economy, and promoting public-private partnerships.

H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission

Additionally, Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the African Development Bank delivered a speech on behalf of President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and introduced the bank's "Feed Africa" strategy. He reported significant achievements in improving food productivity and creating jobs over the past decade, with a strong focus on empowering youth and women through flagship programs such as TAAT (Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation), SAPZ (Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones), and Enable Youth (support for youth entrepreneurship). He indicated that future strategies would continue to strengthen partnerships and invest in youth-centered agriculture and blue economy growth.
 

Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the African Development Bank

In closing, Dr. Amit Roy, Chair of SAA, summarized the Way Forward with three key messages: first, youth and women must remain at the center of agricultural transformation as leaders and innovators; second, integration of the Blue Economy and agriculture can drive jobs, nutrition, and sustainability when guided by knowledge and responsibility; and third, only partnerships that deliver tangible results can move the agenda forward. Looking ahead to SAA’s 40th anniversary next year, he paid tribute to The Nippon Foundation for its decades-long support, while calling for renewed collaboration with partners, governments, and communities across Africa.

Dr. Amit Roy, Chair of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), delivering the closing remarks

This event marked a significant step forward in solidifying the cooperative relationship between Japan and Africa for a sustainable future for the continent. We would like to extend our gratitude to all who participated.

■ External Media Coverage

In connection with this event, interview articles with SAA President Shuichi Suzuki were published in the following online media outlets:
• Pan African Visions: “Empowering Africa’s Farmers: Innovation, Partnerships, and Sustainable Growth”

• AGRITECH Middle East & Africa: “Empowering Africa’s Smallholder Farmers through Innovation and Inclusive Partnerships”

Prime Minister Ishiba's Address on the Future of Sustainable, Inclusive, and Resilient Food Systems and Local Economies in Africa
Event info