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Japan eyes doubling aid to Africa over 5 years-NHK

15 May 2008 06:51:47 GMT
Source: Reuters

TOKYO, May 15 (Reuters) - Japan plans to double its official development assistance to African nations over the next five years, public broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday, as it gears up to host a conference for African leaders at the end of May.

Japan, which is set to host the fourth round of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) on May 28-30, contributed $1.7 billion in aid to African nations in 2007, the foreign ministry said.

The government, which plans to announce the aid plan at TICAD, aims to use the aid to increase food production by setting up irrigation facilities and providing technological assistance, NHK reported, without citing a source.

An official at the foreign ministry said while the government is studying various policies for TICAD, including official development assistance to African nations, no decision has made over the amount of aid.

The report comes as Japan tries to increase its presence in Africa -- rich in commodities such as rare metals -- through aid and lending, amid rising competition from China and India.

Tokyo is also keen to get support from African nations as it seeks a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Leaders from around 40 African nations are expected to attend the TICAD meeting this year, almost double the number attending a previous TICAD meeting in 2003.

Japan's foreign aid grew steadily from the late 1970s as the resource-poor nation strengthened ties with resource-rich developing countries and embarked on policies to boost its international profile to match its economic power.

In 2007, Japan achieved a target set by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and doubled its official development assistance to Africa from the 2003 figure of $800 million.

But it slipped to fifth place from third in overall overseas aid spending in 2007 at $7.7 billion, down 30 percent from the previous year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said last month.

Its overall aid budget has been cut back every year since 2000/01 as Tokyo tries to curb its bulging public debt, which is by far the highest among industrialised nations. (Reporting by Yoko Kubota; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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