YOKOHAMA, Japan – Japan is providing 100 billion yen ($1 billion) in aid over the next five years to northern Africa for economic development and humanitarian efforts, including help with security and counter-terrorism measures.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the assistance in a speech Sunday at a conference in Yokohama, near Tokyo, where officials from 50 African nations have gathered to talk about trade, growth and other issues.
The $1 billion is part of the 3.2 trillion yen ($32 billion) in government and private-sector aid announced Saturday.
Japan is keen to court Africa, which is rich in resources and growing as a market, after having fallen behind Asian rival China in trade with and infrastructure projects in Africa.
The three-day conference, held every five years, began in 1993. This year's ends Monday.
Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.