Published January 13, 2015
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.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/japan-earmarks-1-billion-development-humanitarian-aid-for-boosting-northern-african-security