Two Asian rivals influencing in Africa

Since 2012 China has invested in Africa roughly US$90 billion while Japan invested a little bit lower of US$62 since 2013.

The Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD) External was launched in 1993 by the Government of Japan, with the intention to promote Africa’s development. This has been the way in which Japan has maintained and strengthened relations in multilateral cooperation with Africa.

In 20 years, TICAD has evolved into a major global, open and multilateral forum. During this time, they have looked for supporting Africa in its development. This conference was held each five years and this last one was held after only three years. But also, this was the first time held in Africa. The organizers of the conference are: Office of Special Adviser on Africa, The Government of Japan, The African Union Commission, The World Bank and The United Nations Development Program.

The conference was held in Nairobi (Kenya) and if we compare it with China events, China held the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) for the sixth time. This time it was in Johannesburg. The relations between both sides are very active at this moment. They cooperate in political relations, cultural exchange, economic and trade cooperation and they also have interactions between cities and countries. China cooperates in many ways such as sending peacekeepers to Sudan, building a big dam in Zimbabwe, and supporting water scarcity in Ethiopian Primary Schools. They also cooperate in academic research and scholar interaction.

All this intense activity China is deploying in Africa has made the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to regain some of the ground lost to China in an increasingly fierce rivalry over influence in Africa. His view is that: “Japan will aim for a quality, resilient and stable Africa in partnership with the continent”. They can support Africa with the development of high-quality infrastructure and human resources.

But Japan is not only competing with China in this race of cooperation. India organizes with Africa the India-Africa Business Forum since 2010. They bring together leaders from government and business, both India and Africa as part of the continuing efforts to widen and deepen the trade and investment ties.

Manpower needed for railroad projects and sugarcane plantations, which transported vast numbers of Indians to the eastern and southern parts of Africa, made many of them settle down in Africa. No matter to which point of history we can refer to, the inescapable fact is that business and related economic activity is a major driver of India's close and friendly ties with Africa. Since they have started with these forums, India has invested nearly US$20 million.

For the Japanese economy, Africa has a great importance. Many of the raw materials and resources used to manufacture Japanese exports, from automobiles to household appliances, come from African states. Japan has different industries where it will develop the cooperation with Africa.

Developing the country’s cobalt and nickel industries through an international consortium where Japanese Sumitomo company participates. Committing with Mozambique US$700 million to help build the capacity to export liquefied natural gas to Japan, the world’s largest importer of this fuel, over the following five years.

Japan is also increasing the political relations, and current Prime Minister is not losing any occasion to promote it. He has visited the continent many times in the last years. Last year, Mr. Abe traveled to Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast, and Mozambique, becoming the first Japanese leader to go to sub-Saharan Africa since 2006.

Japan is also increasing the ties with Africa in terms of maritime security and antipiracy initiatives. But also, trying to maintain under control the Chinese activities and tactics in the East and South China Seas.

Japan is supporting additionally in military conflicts in some African regions like Djibouti to support antipiracy missions in the Indian Ocean and Sudan for peacekeeping mission.

Japan will continue showing to China that they can follow different ways to support Africa along next years.