While addressing the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ramaphosa said his country endorses the focus on science, technology and innovation as a priority theme for TICAD 7, given its great potential to accelerate African development through mutually beneficial partnerships with Japan.
“Africa wishes to significantly expand science innovation and technology capacity and to create institutions that will advance our research agenda and directly link our science endeavors to our development priorities,’ he added.
He noted that this is a key driver towards the African continent’s platform for action Agenda 2063, adding that after all, it is science and innovation that produced vaccines that save the lives of millions of children on the continent.
He reiterated that Japan has achieved growth development and prosperity through dedicated investment in science and innovation for society.
According to the South African President, the country has focused its attention on increasing investment in research and innovation development.
“Our universities have been supported to train more postgraduate students, our researchers have been supported through funding for dedicated research centers of excellence and over two hundred research chairs. We would like to see the existence of research-intensive universities throughout the continent and intend to find partners to support the creation of research chairs to promote research throughout Africa,” Ramaphosa emphasized.
More than 140 Japanese companies have an investment footprint in South Africa totaling more than R90 billion.
