Komura says Japan will extend $260 mil. to Africa

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 4 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Friday that Japan will extend a total of $260 million, or 30 billion yen, in aid to Africa for such purposes as refugee relief, food assistance and support for U.N. peacekeeping operations in the region.
In a speech in the Tanzanian capital, Komura also indicated Japan's intention to release a mid- to long-term support framework for Africa during the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama in May.
Komura said the issue will also top the agenda during the Group of Eight summit in the northern Japan prefecture of Hokkaido in July, stressing that if Africa starts to thrive and the world as a whole becomes prosperous, it will have a positive impact on the Japanese economy as well.
But he also added that Japan will not expect any direct, immediate returns from Africa for its support measures, underlining Japan's stance of strengthening long-term development assistance to the region.
For Tanzania alone, Komura said Japan will offer $5.6 million for poverty reduction measures and $6.3 million worth of rice to the eastern African nation.
Komura left Japan on Thursday and is scheduled to return home Monday.