Cameroon - Japan Relations: More Investments In The Pipe

#Politique

In an exclusive interview Ambassador Tsutomu Osawa of Japan explains the evolution of bilateral ties between both countries and sheds light on further developments.

“One major characteristic of Japanese assistance is that we prefer to provide our partners with the technique of how to fish rather than providing them with fish” 

Ambassador Tsutomu Osawa who officially assumed duties in Cameroon on 14 December, 2018 following the presentation of his letters of credence to President Paul Biya is bent on taking relations between Japan and Cameroon to another level. Although Cameroon is the first African country where the Japanese diplomat has taken up such an important function, he has had several working experiences across the globe and he is certain that during his stay in the country both Japan and Cameroon will strengthen bilateral relations.

Apart from attracting Japanese investors to take interest in Cameroon, he equally plans to bring more citizens from his country. The desire stems from the memorable presence of the Indomitable Lions in the Japanese city of Oita in 2002 during the FIFA World Cup and other significant moments in the longstanding relations between  both countries. In an exclusive interview granted to Cameroon Tribune in Yaounde on Wednesday 6 February, 2019 Ambassador Tsutomu Osawa looks at Japan-Cameroon cooperation and future plans. 

 Your Excellency, welcome to Cameroon and I will like to start by asking about the vision you have for your diplomatic mission as you begin your new challenge in the country?

First of all it is a great honour for me to have this interview with Cameroon Tribune. Cameroon is a very diverse country and it is challenging for me to work here. This is the first time that I am working in Africa. I worked in Geneva in charge of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), after that I worked in Vienna where I was in charge of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and both organisations are focusing on development issues in Africa. That helped me to study Africa’s development while in Europe. Now I am doing the business of Africa’s development on the spot. It is very challenging and interesting experience in my diplomatic career.

Cameroon is your first duty post in Africa after your appointments at the Japanese Consulate in Hong Kong, China, and Japanese Permanent Mission in Vienna, in what ways do you think the Cameroonian experience would be different looking at the few months you have spent in Yaounde already?

I have worked in many countries: China, Korea, Austria, Switzerland and the United States and one of the big differences is that we have a lot of Japanese residents and companies in these countries compared to Cameroon. We have just about 100 Japanese residents here in Cameroon. There are very few Japanese investments in this country. My personal hope is that we increase the number of Japanese who reside in this country as well as attract investors from Japan to do business in Cameroon.

The government of Japan has been involved in a number of development projects in Cameroon, how do you intend to push the initiatives forward?

We have implemented various types of economic assistance here in Cameroon; in various areas such as agriculture, public health, education, fishery industry, and the small and medium-sized enterprises. One major characteristic of Japanese assistance is that we prefer to provide our partners with the technique of how to fish rather than providing them with fish. In addition, our economic assistance is focused on long-term development. Its result sometimes appears intangible, but it is finally conducive for the the development of the country concerned.

Although we have Japanese schools here which are highly appreciated, we do not necessarily base our cooperation more on tangible factors like building infrastructure. That kind of approach will continue during my stay in Cameroon and the issues of ensuring that more Japanese visit and invest in Cameroon will also be of capital importance to me during my stay in Cameroon.

Apart for what you have just said, is there a specific stamp that you think will mark your diplomatic stay?

I have observed that there are several used cars littered on the streets of major towns in Cameroon. There is also the need for forest conservation in Cameroon. Japan has a lot of technological know-how in these areas and I would like to invite some Japanese companies to explore the possibilities of business opportunities in these sectors in Cameroon. For example, there is a big Japanese company, MARUBENI which is planning to scout for opportunities in Cameroon.

It is one of the biggest trade and Investment Company in Japan and they are planning to construct two hospitals in the suburb of Yaounde (Jamot and Mfou). They are waiting for the official approval. Other Japanese companies are watching to see if that investment can go smoothly so that they should equally make other interesting offers to foster development between the two countries through their own investment projects.

We also want to extend our activities to environmental assistance specifically in forest management which is both important in conserving forest resources and reducing CO2 emissions so as to protect the planet. Japan has the required technology to ensure that kind of support to Cameroon. I will like to invite companies of Oita Prefecture in Japan to Cameroon so that they can see how best to contribute in environmental protection activities like recycling of used cars which are all over the big cities in Cameroon.

Cameroonian youths admire Japanese and would like to benefit from Japanese technological advances especially those who learnt of the “ABA Initiative” by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conceived after the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) that held in Yokohama in 2013. How are you planning to drive with the idea in Cameroon?

We are now planning to host TICAD VII in August this year 2019 in Yokohama again and the first phase of the “ABA Initiative” launched in 2013 has just ended. All evaluations made show that the initiative has been a success. It is very important to build human resources in Africa. After studying in universities in Japan, the students who benefitted from the “ABA Initiative” also had internship in private companies in Japan.

The output of the beneficiaries has been encouraging and useful. The details for the next phase are being discussed by the Japanese government so that the scholarship programme should continue.

We welcome more applications from students in Cameroon so that more human capital should continually be developed in this country to ensure further development and progress. Education, agricultural, and scientific research are areas of special concern to Japan-Cameroon ties. Have you looked at the projects to see in what ways you may want to intensify the various activities? I have not looked at all the projects, but I attended a ceremony for the KAIZEN and some rice cultivation projects.

There is equally a fish market project in Douala which is expected to bring very good results for the development of of fisheries. We will continue such efforts with Government of Cameroon in our bilateral activities. We will also continue to provide humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the North West, South West and Far North Regions of the country

While responding to New Year wishes to the diplomatic corps at the Unity Palace on 12 January, 2019 President Paul Biya cited Japan as part of the favoured development partners of Cameroon. How does this translate into concrete reality to you as a Japanese diplomat? It was a very great pleasure and honour for me to hear the Head of State talk about Japan directly during such a gathering.

We do hope that the President would have the chance to visit Japan again because we are going to have two big events this year in Japan. One is TICAD VII in August in Yokohama and the other is the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor that will take place in October in Tokyo. Heads of State all over the world will be invited to attend the ceremony and for Cameroon the presence of the Head of State will offer another chance to enhance our bilateral relations. Actually our relations are based on economic assistance, but I will try to extend to other areas like cultural and sports exchanges since in 2020 Japan will be hosting Tokyo Olympics.

I do not know how many athletes from Cameroon will be participating. But in 2002 there was the presence of the Indomitable Lions in Oita Prefecture during the FIFA World Cup in Japan and that has created a strong bond between Oita and Cameroon.

In 2017, the Cameroon Oita Friendship Association was created and that is a strong direct link which both countries can hang on. I hope that the Olympic delegation from Cameroon will be able to have a base in the District and it will be good that a representative from Cameroon should visit the town to see the available facilities that can host the Cameroon Olympic delegation to the Games next year.