Japanese official visits Kaizen Center in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA-Japan devotes support to Africa's aspiration to achieve Agenda 2063 and to address its challenges as well as supplement efforts towards seeking African solutions to African problems, a high-level official said.

The visiting Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Fukazawa Yoichi made the above remark yesterday.

Yoichi further expressed his country's desire to facilitate innovation works together with Africans through Kaizen philosophy and to employ the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), JICA and other platforms.

"Japan's partnership with Africa helps and contributes to the progress of African people; realize structural transformation for sustainable economic growth."

He also visited the Kaizen Excellence Center in Addis Ababa.

The official mentioned Japan's expectation of the Kaizen Excellence Center's becoming of the hub for human resources development and nurturer individuals who lead the future of Africa's business and industry.

It was recalled that the former Kaizen Excellence Centre (KEC) does not have adequate training facilities and the training is limited to Addis Ababa, which has been an obstacle to nationwide dissemination.

In 2018, Japan agreed to grant over 20 million USD for the construction of the Kaizen Excellence Center which was completed and transferred to the government of Ethiopian in October 2023.

According to Yoichi, the project aims to improve the human resource development function of the KEC by developing training and administration office building and an accommodation facility and procuring equipment for training.

"Moreover, the objectives of the project are to accept trainees not only from Ethiopia but also from all over Africa, utilize the KEC as a facility for learning kaizen and contributing to improving the quality and productivity of industries in Africa."

Yoichi also met with Ethiopian Industry Minister Melaku Alebel and exchanged views on the development of the manufacturing sector and the future economic growth in African countries including Ethiopia as a result of permeating Kaizen philosophy.

The minister said on the discussion that Ethiopia has been focusing on human resource development and employing Japan's kaizen as a means to expedite industrial competitiveness and promote manufacturing.