Home | Business | Economy and Trade | The Irrelevance of Japan in Africa

The Irrelevance of Japan in Africa

23 January, 2011 09:21:00 Arezki Daoud

Font size:

Japan is one of the latest economic powers to make it loud and clear that it wants to compete for influence in the Middle East and Africa . But can its leaders build strong economic ties that would compete with those of China? Today’s situation suggests that the Japanese climb will be steep and difficult. Just in Africa alone, the Japanese economic presence is about one third of that of China and further dropping given the fast expansion of China there.

But that does not stop the Japanese from trying, even if perhaps most of what the politicians and some business people say publically remain a matter of theory. In a visit to Algiers this December, the Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said his country wished to contribute to the economic development of Algeria.

Not hiding his country's interest in energy and natural resources, the young foreign minister was quoted saying "Japan is interested in the fact that Algeria has significant energy resources and a large internal market (...) and wishes to contribute to economic development in Algeria." The Japanese charm offensive of sort is the first in years. In fact, Maehara's visit was the first by a Japanese Foreign Minister to Algeria since the independence of that country in 1962. Should Algiers take the diplomats words seriously or is this just diplomat language that may translate to nothing? Continue here or subscriber here

Add to: Add to your del.icio.us

del.icio.us | Digg this story

Digg |

Facebook | Googlize this post!

Google |

Myspace

Comments (2 posted):

ma on 29 January, 2011 08:38:59

Actually, the article should be the relevance of Japan in Africa. For one simple, as for the chinese, Japenese has the talent to demonstrate to the third world countries their capacity to really "hear" their concerns. The renewable folder is an excellent example.

Mark Belliveau on 05 February, 2011 06:58:11

Yes indeed, Japon will be a good partner and example for Algeria, especially in science, industry, technology and engineering.
Japon is a TRUE model for Algeria, because Japan an Asian country succeed to grasp science, engineering, know-how and develop its own technology, industry, high-tech campagnies.
Algerian have to learn from Japans in ALL fields.
The Algerian Ministry of Education and Research, and the Ministry of Industry should take this opportunity seriously and send thousands of young Algerian to study and learn in Japaneses Universities, ad collaborate with Japaneses Professors in Research programs.
Japan succeed its modernization. Why not Algeria.