(Togo First) - Several African leaders, including Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Council, attend the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) starting Wednesday, August 20, in Yokohama, Japan. The Japanese government organizes the event in partnership with the United Nations, UNDP, the World Bank, and the African Union. It brings together heads of state, political leaders, and economic actors under the theme: “Co-creating innovative solutions with Africa.”
Le Président du Conseil, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, est arrivé ce mardi 19 août 2025 au Japon, pour prendre part aux travaux de la neuvième Conférence internationale de Tokyo sur le développement de l’Afrique (TICAD 9), dont l’ouverture officielle est prévue pour demain à… pic.twitter.com/6MrKpGfC91
— Présidence du Conseil du Togo (@presidencecstg) August 19, 2025
During the conference's plenary sessions, President Gnassingbé meets with Japanese officials and business leaders. These meetings serve to showcase Togo’s strengths and seek increased foreign investment. The government aims to use this capital to advance infrastructure, secure food sovereignty, and develop digital mapping technologies.
The talks may lead to new agreements designed to deepen already strong ties between Lomé and Tokyo. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that by the end of 2022, Japan invested nearly 41 billion yen (about CFA186 billion) in Togo, combining loans (9.35 billion yen), grants (28.45 billion yen), and technical assistance (3.01 billion yen).
On the trade front, Togo exported goods worth 2.27 billion yen to Japan in 2023, including sesame and non-ferrous metals. Meanwhile, Japan exported fibers and machinery worth 3.12 billion yen to Togo during the same period.
In addition to trade, Japan supports Togo’s development through targeted projects. For example, Tokyo signed a grant in November 2023 to fund a bypass road in Sokodé, aiming to enhance Togo’s logistical connectivity. Furthermore, Japan aids Togo's food security by donating rice under the Kennedy Round (KR) program.
Esaie Edoh