Erschienen in Ausgabe: No 91 (09/2013) | Letzte Änderung: 19.08.13 |
von Shinzō Abe
Securing Japan’s economic recovery has been
my priority since returning as the country’s prime minister at the end of last
year. We have made progress and, as this newspaper has observed, Japanese
companies and individuals alike are starting to feel the benefits.
The nature of the global economy,
however, means that “Abenomics”
cannot simply be a domestic endeavor, nor can it be about short-term gain. Japan’s
economic strength has been built on a cornerstone of cooperation and trade
internationally, while our foreign policy is founded on the belief that peace
and prosperity abroad contribute to peace and prosperity at home. This stance
is also reflected in Japan’s
approach to global development challenges.
On my first official visit to Myanmar this
month, I was able to see the process of democratization in action. It struck me
that developed and developing countries face the same challenges in ensuring
that economic policy benefits citizens in a direct and tangible way. This is an
issue that is central to efforts to eradicate poverty and promote developments,
and one that I will address alongside African leaders and other colleagues at the
Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) on June
1-3.
The conference, now in its 20th year, is jointly
organized by the government of Japan,
the African Union Commission, the United Nations, the U.N. Development
Programme and the World Bank. It brings together development partners, donor
countries, private companies and nongovernmental organizations to discuss
development in Africa. The forum is founded on
an approach that seeks to avoid the “top-down” hierarchy of the donor-recipient
model and to opt instead for African “ownership” and international “partnership.”
Japan has a unique perspective on poverty reduction and development for a
variety of reasons, not least because of the lessons it learned from its own
path to modernization. A lack of natural resources prompted a focus on our most
important resource: our people. Growth is not simply fueled by natural resources.
It is spurred and sustained by people—through skills, education, training, innovation
and social cohesion.
Japan has a strong track record of development assistance through bilateral and
multilateral channels, and while our approach has evolved considerably, a focus
on human-resource development is central to our philosophy.
What exactly does human-resource development mean
within this context? I was fortunate to discuss these issues with Professor Joseph
Stiglitz of Columbia
University earlier this
year, and we agreed that a crucial foundation was “inclusive growth,” whereby the
benefits of economic growth must be felt by all people within a country and not
just a select few.
Human-resource development also means fostering
democracy and recognizing the importance of human dignity and development at an
individual level. Japan’s
model seeks to ensure that individuals feel empowered and proud of the
contribution they make to society. This includes a particular focus on young
people and women who, when provided with the necessary education, will become
the engine for the development of their countries, and can be empowered to
transform political and social systems.
Alongside human-resource development, infrastructure also
plays a critical role in enabling linkages between markets that allow the benefits
of trade to spread. It is the combination of infrastructure and human resources
that provides the foundation for greater private-sector investment.
Japan’s commitment to Africa and the TICAD is a primary example of this
approach. This year’s conference focuses on creating robust and sustainable
economies and inclusive and resilient societies underpinned by peace and
stability.
There is also a strong emphasis on public-private
partnerships and enlisting private-sector support to ensure that African countries
and communities have efficient markets on a nation-wide, region-wide and
continent-wide scale—an essential precondition to improving living standards,
reducing poverty and boosting employment.
The positive legacy of TICAD projects can be seen
across Africa. The Smallholder Horticulture
Empowerment Project in Kenya,
for instance, explains the benefits of market efficiency to ensure that farmers
grow what they know they can sell productively and profitably. The project
tackles the need to strengthen farmers’ access to markets and includes aspects
of marketing, as well as production. The project has now been implemented
across Kenya.
Africa has experienced impressive growth in recent years, averaging over 5% per
year. However, deepening economic integration is an important prerequisite for
further growth. TICAD projects such as the “One Stop Border Posts” initiative
have helped expedite customs procedures between African countries, promoting
mobility and regional development. Following initial success on the
Zambia-Zimbabwe border, the Japan International Cooperation Agency is now
supporting the introduction of similar schemes at over 13 different borders
across the continent.
Japan keeps its promises. Japan
has achieved its pledge made at TICAD IV in 2008 to double its five-year
average of direct investment in Africa, which
had already tripled at the end of 2011. TICAD V’s targets will be ambitious but
equally achievable. As with the economic challenges Japan faces today, a quick fix will
not be adequate. What is needed is a genuine commitment to ensure inclusive and
sustainable economic development. This begins with human-resource development,
creating an environment where skills can be improved, women and young people
can be empowered and communities can flourish.
This year Japan
pledged a further $550 million toward stability, peace and development in Africa. Japan
is also committed to providing on-the-ground support across the continent, for
example conducting operations to prevent piracy off the east coast of Africa and to provide humanitarian assistance in the Sahel
region, including Mali.
Japan
recognizes the need to contribute at a global level and cooperate with our
international partners. It is my sincere hope that a more dynamic and resilient
Japanese economy can bring significant benefits in Africa
and beyond.
Mr. Abe is prime minister of Japan.
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