Addis Ababa — Leading Africans are to meet here next week to brainstorm on an input to the upcoming Tokyo Conference on African Development (TICAD II), due to be held in Japan in October or November 1998.

The gathering of leading African policymakers, technocrats and civil society representatives -- due to take place from 23-24 October -- follows the lead taken by ECA in offering to assist African governments in preparing for the Tokyo Preparatory meeting (10-11 November 1997).

The meeting will consider a draft Issues Paper, aimed at facilitating the identification of the most critical issues, as well as the specific programmes that would be covered by TICAD, as well as to ensure that visible results and a lasting impact are achieved from the TICAD process.

Last month, Under-Secretary-General and ECA Executive Secretary, Mr. K.Y. Amoako, agreed to a request from the government of Japan that the Commission join the Preparatory Committee for the 1998 meeting.

TICAD II is a non-pledging conference, intended to review progress made since TICAD I in 1993 and to produce action-oriented results. Its overall goal is to strengthen the new, positive trends in African development, including political and economic reforms, regional cooperation and integration, and African ownership of development initiative.

TICAD II -- organized by the government of Japan, the UN and the Global Coalition for Africa -- also aims to highlight ways that Africa's development partners can support development initiatives on the continent as the next millennium approaches.

Japan is a leading bilateral development donor to Africa.

For further information please contact Peter da Costa, Cabinet Office of the Executive Secretary, UN ECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251-1-51-58-26 (direct) or 251-1-51-72-00 (main switchboard), Ext. 354866 Fax: +251-1-51-22-33 E-Mail: ecainfo@un.org