Japan is expected to unveil its plan to accelerate the development of the Nacala Corridor during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) to be held from 22-25 August, the Times of Japan reported.
The Japanese government has been developing the Nacala Corridor since 2012. The three-day event will be held in Yokohama.
Japan is expected to pledge support for the three countries, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia, hosting the Nacala Corridor by utilising investment and loan programmes of private firms and international organisations, as well as the government's official development assistance programme.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to announce Japan’s plan to accelerate development of the Nacala Corridor, a logistics network between Zambia and a port in Mozambique, at the conference.
The Nacala Logistics Corridor connects railways, highways, ports and airports, which directly serve Mozambique and Malawi, and indirectly to Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Japan is expected to support the development of water facilities and highways in order to promote industrial growth and increase the value of the areas.
Japan is slated to launch a new initiative to strengthen economic ties with India, the Middle East and Africa. The government will support Japanese companies' advances into these regions by helping expand trade and investment through the new economic initiative and the Nacala Corridor.
Japan aims to increase its competitiveness with China, which is trying to increase its presence in Africa by providing countries on the continent with subsidies.
Japan wants to establish solid supply chains for critical minerals, which are directly associated with Japan's economic security.
The TICAD is expected to help realign development cooperation with Africa, an area in which Japan has been a pioneer.
The rehabilitation of the Nacala port, inaugurated in October 2023, cost more than 250 million euros through financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The cargo volume at the port reached a record 3.1 million tons annually in 2023 after modernisation.
The ceremony was attended by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, former President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique and President Lazarous Chakwera of Malawi.
During the event, the three countries signed a tripartite institutional agreement on the Nacala Development Corridor, as well as agreements related to road and rail infrastructure.
Zambia is also involved in developing the Lobito Corridor, connecting the port of Lobito in Angola to the Copperbelt region of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tanzania and Zambia have also signed an agreement with China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation for the concession of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)
Written for Railways Africa by Chamwe Kaira
