President William Ruto departed for Japan Monday evening to attend the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), in Yokohama.
Japan’s longstanding development partnership with Kenya has grown to over KSh600 billion, making Kenya the leading recipient of Japanese support in Africa.
The visit is therefore expected to consolidate Kenya-Japan relations by expanding opportunities in trade, investment, and development cooperation, State House said.
Discussions will focus on flagship infrastructure projects, including the Mombasa Port expansion, the Mombasa Port Area Road Development, the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, and Nairobi’s urban transport systems.
Other areas of collaboration include agriculture, forestry, and climate change, with Japan already supporting the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and reforestation efforts.
Both countries will further explore expanding educational exchanges in Science, Technology, and Innovation to develop skilled talent.
At TICAD 9, Ruto will call for deeper African integration and connectivity to unlock economic potential. He will emphasise the African Continental Free Trade Area as a driver of inclusive growth, urge the removal of trade barriers, and seek stronger partnerships with Japan to boost investment in priority sectors.
He will also highlight the need to upgrade infrastructure, energy, logistics, and digital networks to better link Africa with global markets.
On the sidelines, President Ruto will hold bilateral talks with several leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and will be received at the Imperial Palace by Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. His meeting with Prime Minister Ishiba will focus on deepening the Kenya-Japan partnership and exploring new avenues for trade, investment, and international cooperation.
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