Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said African concerns and challenges should be part of the global agenda now and into the future.

Mudavadi said there was a need to focus more on creating employment for the burgeoning youthful population, agricultural development, trade, digital transformation, and other areas that will enhance growth with equity.

During the Tokyo Investment Conference for Africa Development (TICAD-9) ministerial meeting, Mudavadi said this aligns with the United Nations’ call for leaving no one behind as we all aspire for African solutions to Africa’s problems.

“I propose that we consider funding and technology integration into agriculture, to make the sector adaptive to climate change. There is also an urgent need to focus on youth and women’s challenges from a South-South perspective,” Mudavadi said.

Mudavadi, also Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said re-looking at the global financial architecture, which he said is an aspect that calls for closer collaboration between the African continent and Japan under the TICAD framework.

Global population

Developing countries in Africa, Mudavadi said, account for 18 per cent of the global population yet the continent’s contribution to global trade is less than 3 per cent.

The goal he said should target to expand production, create employment opportunities, and generate income.

“Investments in requisite skills and capacity as well as a favorable legal and regulatory framework can facilitate effective private sector engagement and utilization of technology thus be a gateway to future economic stability,” he said.

Mudavadi noted that it is crucial to create an enabling start-up ecosystem not only in Kenya, but in the entire African continent, to create a robust network of entrepreneurs working together to attract more FDI, foster innovation, and address societal challenges.

The Prime CS cited Kenya as one of the largest recipients of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) saying private sector investments to Kenya by Japanese companies have gradually increased over time. About 120 Japanese companies are operating in Kenya.

“Kenya has also positioned itself as a preferred destination in Africa for global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In 2022, FDI to Kenya was estimated at USD 759 million, accounting for 20 percent of the FDI flows of USD 3.8 billion to the East African Community. This underlines Kenya’s competitiveness as EAC’s financial and investment hub,” he said

Mutual growth

“Collaboration between Japanese companies and Kenyan start-ups can be a powerful catalyst for mutual growth and prosperity. It can strengthen ties between the two nations through joint ventures, technology transfer and shared business initiatives that can be scaled up to the Eastern Africa region and across the African continent.” he added. Mudavadi lauded Japan’s support of Africa’s infrastructural development and partnership in bolstering socio-economic activities.

“Japan has maintained close collaboration with Africa geared towards enhancing growth and prosperity in areas like health, education, trade, investment and climate change. The two countries need to identify areas of quick wins that do not require huge resources but have huge impact value,” said Mudavadi.

He noted that trade and investment play a critical role in propelling the continents’ economic growth and help in poverty alleviation calling on African nations to develop and implement strategies that will expand regional and international trade chains. Mudavadi acknowledged the effectiveness of the Africa-Japan cooperation, challenging African nations to work towards more trade and investment collaboration with Japan. This he said is part of the evolving global order stating that Africa and Japan have a great opportunity to discuss opportunities that will enable them to scale up their mutual trade and investment.

“Trade between Africa and Japan is fairly balanced. In 2023, the value of exports from Africa to Japan was estimated at USD 8.28 billion while imports by Africa from Japan were estimated at USD 10.27 billion, leaving a deficit of USD 1.98 billion against Africa,” he noted.

Mudavadi said there is a need to relook at one of the aims of TICAD, which is how to integrate African priorities into the international cooperation agendas of partners and donors.

He rallied the continent to strive towards a cohesive African start-up ecosystem that is characterized by seamless collaboration across borders, enabling start-ups to scale their ideas from local to regional and even global markets.

“Let us appreciate that developing countries are embracing the private sector to promote sustainable development. Innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence and robotics, can enable countries to harness the power of the digital economy to advance an efficient, inclusive and sustainable future.” he said.

Mudavadi speaks on Africa’s global agenda, its future

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said African concerns and challenges should be part of the global agenda now and into the future.

Mudavadi said there was a need to focus more on creating employment for the burgeoning youthful population, agricultural development, trade, digital transformation, and other areas that will enhance growth with equity.

During the Tokyo Investment Conference for Africa Development (TICAD-9) ministerial meeting, Mudavadi said this aligns with the United Nations’ call for leaving no one behind as we all aspire for African solutions to Africa’s problems.

“I propose that we consider funding and technology integration into agriculture, to make the sector adaptive to climate change. There is also an urgent need to focus on youth and women’s challenges from a South-South perspective,” Mudavadi said.

Mudavadi, also Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said re-looking at the global financial architecture, which he said is an aspect that calls for closer collaboration between the African continent and Japan under the TICAD framework.

Global population

Developing countries in Africa, Mudavadi said, account for 18 percent of the global population yet the continent’s contribution to global trade is less than 3 percent.

The goal he said should target to expand production, create employment opportunities, and generate income.

“Investments in requisite skills and capacity as well as a favorable legal and regulatory framework can facilitate effective private sector engagement and utilization of technology thus be a gateway to future economic stability,” he said.

Mudavadi noted that it is crucial to create an enabling start-up ecosystem not only in Kenya, but in the entire African continent, to create a robust network of entrepreneurs working together to attract more FDI, foster innovation, and address societal challenges.

The Prime CS cited Kenya as one of the largest recipients of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) saying private sector investments to Kenya by Japanese companies have gradually increased over time. About 120 Japanese companies are operating in Kenya.

“Kenya has also positioned itself as a preferred destination in Africa for global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In 2022, FDI to Kenya was estimated at USD 759 million, accounting for 20 percent of the FDI flows of USD 3.8 billion to the East African Community. This underlines Kenya’s competitiveness as EAC’s financial and investment hub,” he said

Mutual growth

“Collaboration between Japanese companies and Kenyan start-ups can be a powerful catalyst for mutual growth and prosperity. It can strengthen ties between the two nations through joint ventures, technology transfer and shared business initiatives that can be scaled up to the Eastern Africa region and across the African continent.” he added. Mudavadi lauded Japan’s support of Africa’s infrastructural development and partnership in bolstering socio-economic activities.

“Japan has maintained close collaboration with Africa geared towards enhancing growth and prosperity in areas like health, education, trade, investment and climate change. The two countries need to identify areas of quick wins that do not require huge resources but have huge impact value,” said Mudavadi.

He noted that trade and investment play a critical role in propelling the continents’ economic growth and help in poverty alleviation calling on African nations to develop and implement strategies that will expand regional and international trade chains. Mudavadi acknowledged the effectiveness of the Africa-Japan cooperation, challenging African nations to work towards more trade and investment collaboration with Japan. This he said is part of the evolving global order stating that Africa and Japan have a great opportunity to discuss opportunities that will enable them to scale up their mutual trade and investment.

“Trade between Africa and Japan is fairly balanced. In 2023, the value of exports from Africa to Japan was estimated at USD 8.28 billion while imports by Africa from Japan were estimated at USD 10.27 billion, leaving a deficit of USD 1.98 billion against Africa,” he noted.

Mudavadi said there is a need to relook at one of the aims of TICAD, which is how to integrate African priorities into the international cooperation agendas of partners and donors.

He rallied the continent to strive towards a cohesive African start-up ecosystem that is characterized by seamless collaboration across borders, enabling start-ups to scale their ideas from local to regional and even global markets.

“Let us appreciate that developing countries are embracing the private sector to promote sustainable development. Innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence and robotics, can enable countries to harness the power of the digital economy to advance an efficient, inclusive and sustainable future.” he said.