The President of the African Development Bank Group, Donald Kaberuka, on Monday in Tokyo officially opened the Bank's External Representation Office for Asia in the Japanese capital.
In an official statement, President Kaberuka said the Tokyo office, which is the Bank's first representation outside Africa, will help strengthen the Bank's advocacy role on African development issues in Asia and the Pacific region, and promote business and investment opportunities in Africa.
According to Mr. Masahiro Kan, the AfDB's Executive Director for Japan, the Tokyo Office serves as a bridgehead for the Bank in Asia and the Pacific region, and will support the institution's efforts to mobilize additional resources and enhance the profile of Africa and the Bank outside the continent. The office is also expected to reinforce the growing ties between Asia and Africa.
Mr. Tamagawa Masayuki is the Resident Representative of the Tokyo office.
The Bank has 35 field offices in its Regional Member Countries (RMCs), including two regional centres servicing East and Southern Africa. The offices are designed to improve the Bank's operations and technical support. Two more External Representation Offices are set to open in Paris and Washington, D.C.
