The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, also known as TICAD, kicked off in Yokohama on August 20.

This international conference on African development will be attended by leaders from more than 30 countries, and this year is co-chaired by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.

Ishiba announced his new economic zone plan to view Africa and the Indian-Ocean region as a single economic zone before the opening ceremony on the 20th.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru: Today, in conjunction with TICAD 9, I would like to propose the Indian Ocean-Africa Economic Zone Initiative. To contribute to the development of Africa. Japan will work together with the people of the region to achieve this goal.

At TICAD, more than 300 agreements on economic cooperation will be signed between the Japanese government, private companies, and African countries.

Ishiba plans to hold summit talks with more than 30 leaders, with a view to strengthening relations, bearing in mind China's growing influence in the region.

Before the start of the event, NTV visited the conference venue to view the preparations being made.

Suzuki Shiori, NTV Reporter: With TICAD set to begin in two days, preparations are proceeding at a rapid pace at the venue.

Staff for the event prepared several gift items for the dignitaries to take home to show the connection between Japan and Africa.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs official: This is the Congress bag (souvenir bag) that will be distributed this time. The contents are items originating from Africa, or items that people from Africa can take home with them.

The items incorporate elements of Japan and also Africa to represent the co-creation theme of the conference.

Inaba Manami, TICAD representative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We chose something Japanese-style, thinking that it would be easy to take home because it is made of shrinkable material.

Folding fans designed to help visitors survive Japan's hot summers and dishcloths made from mosquito net fabric widely used in Africa will be given as souvenirs.

Inaba Manami, TICAD representative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: One of the themes of this TICAD is “co-creation between Japan and Africa,” so we incorporated elements of Japan while also incorporating elements of Africa. I hope this will contribute to the future development of relations between Japan and Africa.

At this TICAD, initiatives such as utilizing Japan's AI and robot technology to support economic growth in Africa are expected to be proposed.