============================================================
Fukuda Cabinet E-mail Magazine No.33 (May 29, 2008)
============================================================
"'Towards a Vibrant Africa.' This is Yasuo Fukuda."
-- Message from the Prime Minister (Provisional Translation)
"Towards a Vibrant Africa." This is Yasuo Fukuda.
The other day, I met with a group of Japan Overseas Cooperation
Volunteers (JOCV) who had carried out activities in Africa,
and I listened to them recount some of their experiences.
The volunteers spoke with relish of their interaction with local
people, as well as on other aspects of their assignments. It was
very clear from their enthusiasm that each and every one of their
activities had been truly productive and fruitful, despite the fact
that they could not take electricity and running water for granted.
To be frank, there is no denying that Africa is a very distant
presence when viewed from Japan. The image that some people may
have of Africa is of a continent characterized by conflict and
poverty.
Such problems are indeed the reality in parts of Africa.
Ms. Rui Matsuno, a nurse who was dispatched to Burkina Faso
to improve hygiene management for the prevention of malaria
and other diseases, commented, "The gravity of life is the same
the world over."
Yet Africa is undergoing enormous changes.
Mr. Chiharu Nagakita, a teacher who worked to improve math
and science education in Ethiopia, noted, "Africa is no different
to other societies in that one's educational background is highly
valued." He said that a single class comprised of nearly 100
students overflowed with the vibrancy of their "eagerness that knew
no bounds."
Ms. Etsuko Kato, a social worker who in Rwanda set up a workshop
for water buffalo horn handicrafts, said that the faces of
the people who received vocational training there "lit up."
Africa is poised to take a new leap towards the century of African
growth. This is indeed the perfect time for the Fourth Tokyo
International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) that
opened yesterday in Yokohama, attended by national leaders and
ministers from more than 40 African countries.
There is absolutely no doubt that Japan will continue to give all
the support it can to resolve issues including those related to
health and sanitation in Africa.
At the same time, I also intend to focus on aid that will bolster
growth in Africa, such as the development of road networks and
other forms of infrastructure and the provision of support to
Japanese companies looking to expand business operations in Africa.
A vibrant Africa brims with hope for the future; extending aid
not only benefits Africa itself, but also represents a great
opportunity for Japan. At TICAD IV my hope is to talk with as many
African leaders as possible, in order to build a partnership
between Japan and Africa to progress hand-in-hand in the century of
African growth.
More than 10,000 JOCVs have carried out assignments in Africa,
and many of the incoming volunteers express a particular desire to
be dispatched there. I feel very encouraged to learn that young
people have a high level of interest in Africa.
I strongly hope that TICAD IV will encourage even more people to
take an interest in Africa, and that it will serve to bring Africa
just that little bit closer.
* Profile of the Prime Minister
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/hukudaprofile/index_e.html
==========================================================
[What's New in Government Internet TV]
<1ch> Prime Minister
- Prime Minister's Week in Review (May 12 to 18, 2008)
https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/eng/prg/prg1796.html
* Please click below to open "Japanese Government Internet
TV" in English.
https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/eng/index.html
==========================================================
[What's up around the Prime Minister]
- Meeting on Education Rebuilding (May 26, 2008) and others
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/hukudaphoto/index_e.html
* Please click below to open the online magazine
"Highlighting JAPAN," which introduces the main policies of
the Japanese Government, as well as Japan's arts, culture,
science and technology, among other topics.
http://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/
==========================================================
[Fukuda Cabinet E-mail Magazine]
- Reader's Comment on the e-mail magazine is available only to the subscribers.
- Click below to make comments on administration of Japan
https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html
- Subscription and cancellation of this e-mail magazine
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/m-magazine/
==========================================================
General Editor | : | Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda |
Chief Editor | : | Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matushige Oono |
Publication | : | Cabinet Public Relations Office 1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, Japan |