The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) working in collaboration with the SADC Development Finance Resource Centre convened the first workshop on development finance for SADC DFIs in Tokyo, Japan on 15th – 25th April 2013 under JICA’s technical assistance to the SADC DFIs.

The workshop was aimed at enhancing the human and institutional capacity of SADC development finance institutions in financing and supporting infrastructure projects by providing a forum for the exchange of news and experiences between senior executives of selected infrastructure – related SADC Development Finance Institutions on the one hand, and experts from infrastructure DFIs, government and academia in Japan and Asia on the other.

The workshop follows a diagnostic study undertaken by the Japan Economic Research Institute (JERI) of Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), Tanzania Investment and Development Bank (TIB) and the National Development Corporation (NDC-Tanzania) between November 2012 and February 2013. JERI had developed the workshop programme based on their assessments of the likely areas of interest to the SADC DFIs.

The workshop was opened by the Deputy Director General for the Africa Division of JICA, Mr. Otake Tomoharu, who provided a historical background to JICA development assistance to developing countries. He also indicated some of the facilities and services that JICA intended to provide in the future to African countries.

The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Tsutomu Shibata, the Chief Consultant at JERI and Mr. Eishi Yasunaga, Vice President of JERI.

The major areas covered included:

1. Profile activities and experiences of major Japanese development finance institution in various areas;
2. Bond issuance and resource mobilization;
3. Public Private Partnerships and infrastructure development;
4. Japan Economic and Industrial Policy;
5. Case studies of selected Asian DFIs, such as Malaysia.

The resource persons were senior management and eminent scholars and experts in their fields and featured such institutions as the Development Bank of Japan, Japan Bank of International Cooperation, Malaysian Development Bank, Universities of Tokyo, Toyo and Hitsotubashi, Japan Economic Research Institute, and the government of Japan.

The programme also included project visits to the Yokohama Waterworks and the Tsogo Power Plant, which demonstrated how investment in technology was assisting Japan meet its energy and water needs with minimal adverse impact on the environment.

Participants at the workshop numbered eighteen (18) altogether, and were drawn from the Development Bank of Namibia (3), Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (5), Tanzania Investment Bank (5), National Development Corporation (2), Ministry of Finance – Zimbabwe (1), Ministry of Finance – Namibia (1) and SADC-DFRC (1).

The SADC – DFRC was represented by Dr Herrick Mpuku, Programmes Manager who stated that the programme offered opportunities for a useful and lively exchange of views between Japan and Asian experts; on the one hand and professionals from the SADC DFI community. It also offered an opportunity for  identification of potential areas of cooperation between the SADC DFI s and the Asian DFIs, and support from JICA.

The workshop was closed on 25th April 2013 with a cocktail graced by senior management of JICA, JERI, and representatives from the participating countries’ embassies. In his closing remarks  at the workshop, the President of JERI, Mr. Takashi Ando, indicated that JERI was pleased to share its accumulated knowledge and experience on development banking with other institutions. He further stated that JERI would be discussing with JICA how to enhance cooperation with Africa within the framework of TICAD V.