Yokohama: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, representing President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, participated in the closing session of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan. The session was graced by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, along with African heads of state, government officials, and leaders from international and regional organizations.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the discussions during the session covered a broad spectrum of economic, social, and political issues pertinent to Africa. Delegates deliberated on the continent's economic growth patterns, the significance of investment-promoting initiatives, and methods to enhance collaboration between Japanese and African enterprises.

Key topics included strategies for improving African countries' debt management capabilities and the pressing need to elevate the quality of social services, such as healthcare, education, electricity, and clean water availability across Africa. The session also focused on sustainable solutions for conflicts and crises, addressing concerns like cybersecurity threats, maritime piracy, violent extremism, and transnational organized crime.

The event culminated in the adoption of the "Yokohama Declaration," highlighting essential recommendations to foster Japan-Africa cooperation in investment, trade, and regional economic integration. The declaration emphasized creating a business-friendly environment, promoting intra-African trade, simplifying customs procedures, and backing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation.