“The focus will be on advancing Africa’s development agenda by bringing together Heads of State and/or Government as well as leading industrialists, top business executives and heads of business associations from Africa and Japan to promote high-level policy dialogue between these leaders and to mobilise support for African-owned development initiatives such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” the presidency said in a statement.

The TICAD, a partnership between Africa and Japan, was initiated in 1993 as an advocacy platform for African Development. It is specifically aimed at mobilising humanitarian aid and the Official Development Assistance (ODA). The TICAD VI will take place on Thursday.

“Since 2008, the partnership has focused on reinventing itself to become a more dynamic, results-oriented mechanism, reflecting the positive developments and progress being made across the African continent. TICAD VI is significant, specifically as it is the first TICAD Summit to be hosted on the African continent.”

Zuma and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are also expected to hold bilateral talks prior to the summit.

“Bilateral relations between South Africa and Japan remain cordial and continue to strengthen, with regular exchanges of high-level visits, an increase in Japanese investments in South Africa and a wide range of technical areas of cooperation. South Africa is currently Japan’s largest trade partner on the African continent. It is estimated that about 140 Japanese firms employing over 140 000 South Africans are operating in South Africa,” the presidency said.

“Bilateral ties between South Africa and Japan are multifaceted and include a broad range of areas of co-operation, which contribute to the transfer of technologies. In addition, Japan has been a major Asian project sponsor in Africa over the past ten years with the amount of Japanese project finance commitments over the ten years since 2005, totalling $33.5 billion.”

Zuma would also attend the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) forum meeting. The APRM’s primary objective is to foster the adoption of policies, values, standards and practices of political and economic governance. The aim is to lead to political stability, accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration, economic growth and sustainable development, the presidency said.

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies; Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi; Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor; Public Service and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi and the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Nomaindiya Mfeketo will accompany Zuma on his visit.

ANA