At the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9), held in Yokohama from August 20–22, Ethiopia’s delegation for the Conference, led by Industry Minister Melaku Alebel, underlined that sustainable peace and development in Africa require African-led solutions backed by international partners.
He reaffirmed Ethiopia’s support for the African Peace and Security Architecture, shared Ethiopia’s ongoing governance and reform efforts, and emphasized the need for stronger African representation in global decision-making, particularly at the UN Security Council.
Ethiopia was also represented by State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hadera Abera, who participated in the ministerial segment convened as part of the preparatory session for the Summit.
The conference brought together African leaders, Japan, and global partners to advance peace, security, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. Key discussions centered on youth and women’s empowerment, climate resilience, regional integration, and the role of public-private partnerships. Ethiopian Airlines and other national stakeholders also took part.
Alongside the Ministerial meeting, Ethiopia’s delegation held bilateral meetings with Japanese and other international partners to strengthen ties and explore new opportunities.
On the sidelines of TICAD 9, Melaku Alebel, Minister of Industry of Ethiopia, held discussions with representatives of Sumitomo Corporation. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration in economic development. Sumitomo representatives expressed appreciation for the Government of Ethiopia’s support in facilitating the company’s engagement in the country and reaffirmed their commitment to further expand their presence. Minister Melaku welcomed the partnership, encouraged Sumitomo to broaden investments beyond the telecommunications sector, and highlighted the wide-ranging opportunities available in Ethiopia’s industrial transformation. Sumitomo Corporation currently invests in Ethiopia’s telecommunications sector.
Ambassador Hadera also met with Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Their discussion focused on enhancing cooperation to address humanitarian needs in Ethiopia, including Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR). Both sides expressed readiness to strengthen collaboration in humanitarian affairs. The ICRC has been working in Ethiopia since the 1930s, supporting government institutions and non-governmental organizations in promoting humanitarian principles and human rights.
Additionally, Ambassador Hadera had a meeting with Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, FUJI Hisayuki, during TICAD-9 to discuss strengthening Ethiopia-Japan relations. The meeting underscored the importance of further deepening the long-standing partnership, founded on mutual respect and shared commitments to development, peace, and security.
The State Minister also conferred with Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka on the margins of the conference, discussing ways to strengthen ties between Ethiopia and the city, with a focus on cultural and educational exchange, technical cooperation, inter-parliamentary relations, and the prospect of a sister-city partnership with Addis Ababa.
Since its launch in 1993, TICAD has served as a vital platform for African-led cooperation, aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda.