We, the Heads of State and Government and delegations of Japan and African Union Member States together with representatives of Intergovernmental African, international, regional organizations and partner countries, as well as the private sector and civil society organizations from Japan and Africa, met in Yokohama, Japan, on 28-30 August 2019, for the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7). We note the progress made across Africa in recent years and recognize the significant transformations in the continent and the world since TICAD began in 1993.
We further note the achievements of TICAD since its inception and continue to implement the guiding principles of African ownership and international partnership, inclusivity and openness. Implementation of TICAD should be guided by Africa’s development dynamics and priorities bearing in mind the concepts of sustainable development and human security. TICAD should therefore be aligned with the African vision as explicitly stated in the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 and its First Ten-Year Implementation plan, as well as the global commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). We commend the efforts of the African Union and its Member States in deepening economic integration as manifested in the recent entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and its operational tools launched at the 12th AU Extraordinary Summit, held in Niamey, Niger, on July 7th 2019. We encourage African Union Member States, with the participation of stakeholders including civil society and the private sector, to continue their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and create an enabling environment for private sector involvement, including of small and medium enterprises. We welcome the transformation of NEPAD Agency into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).