Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has arrived in Yokohama to represent President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
The summit, which brings together Heads of State and Government from African Union member states and Japan, is being held from August 20 to 22, 2025, to deliberate on strategies for strengthening Africa–Japan cooperation in development, trade, and investment.
Ambassador Kombo was received on arrival by Mr. Hideaki Harada, former Japanese Ambassador to Namibia, who was assigned to welcome Tanzania’s delegation leader.
Also present were Tanzania’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Baraka Luvanda, the Director of Asia and Australasia in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Felista Rugambwa, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Embassy of Tanzania in Tokyo.
During the summit, Ambassador Kombo is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, and the Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Ando Naoki.
He will also meet with senior government officials, institutional leaders, and business executives to promote Tanzania as a destination for investment, trade, and tourism.
TICAD, launched by Japan in 1993, serves as a major platform for dialogue between Africa and Japan, with a focus on sustainable economic growth, human resource development, and peace and security.
