“JAPAN’S SURPRISE MOVE: KISARAZU CITY NOW OFFICIAL HOMETOWN FOR NIGERIANS”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–Japan has designated Kisarazu City as the official hometown for Nigerians looking to live and work in the country, strengthening cultural diplomacy and economic ties between the two nations. This strategic partnership, announced at the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9), aims to promote mutual understanding, boost workforce productivity, and enhance regional revitalization efforts .
Key Highlights:
– Special Visa Category: Japan will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians to relocate to Kisarazu City.
– Existing Ties: Kisarazu City has a prior connection with Nigeria, having hosted the Nigerian contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
– Economic Benefits: The partnership is expected to contribute to Japan’s economic growth, address labor shortages, and foster people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Partnership Details:
– Manpower Development: The partnership will focus on two-way exchanges for manpower development, adding value to the economic growth of both Japan and Nigeria.
– Regional Revitalization: Local authorities in Kisarazu hope that the designation will increase the population of their city, contributing to regional revitalization efforts .
Broader Implications:
– Africa-Japan Cooperation: Japan’s initiative is part of its broader strategy to strengthen ties with African nations, with similar partnerships announced for Tanzania, Ghana, and Mozambique.
– Investment in Africa: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced $5.5 billion in new investments in Africa, emphasizing private sector-led growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration .
Japan International Cooperation Agency, in a ceremony, also named the cities of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture the hometown of Mozambique.
Through the arrangement, Japan looks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations.
Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, who is also the Acting Ambassador to Japan, and Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate from the Japanese government naming Kisarazu the hometown of Nigerians.
The four cities will foster a foundation for two-way exchanges for manpower development that will add value to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the other three African nations.
Local authorities hope that the designations will increase the population of their cities, contributing to their regional revitalisation efforts.
Kisarazu was the official host town of the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team conducted their pre-games training camps and acclimatisation in the city before moving to the Olympic village, in the COVID-19 delayed Olympic Games.
In his opening address at the TICAD9, where he announced $5.5 billion in New investment in Africa, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasised the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development.
The Prime Minister outlined Japan’s focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.
Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged the challenges of Japan’s ageing population but emphasised that locally rooted solutions are essential for Africa’s development.
He said, “Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond
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