Tokyo's pledges to SA

FINANCING: JAPAN TO INVEST MORE HERE, INCLUDING IN GREEN ENERGY >>→ Asian country also wants to help strengthen Africa's industrial base.

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

RETAIL POWER A man walks past a mall as China's retail sector gears up for its biggest annual sales festival. Picture: AFP

(AFP)

Japan has expressed support for South Africa's presidency of the G20 summit and pledged to increase Tokyo's investments in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Japanese ambassador to South Africa Fumio Shimizu said out of the 324 documents produced at the recent Tokyo International Conference on African Development held in Yokohama, Japan, in August, 16 were on investments in South Africa.

He gave no details but promised that among the areas being considered was renewable energy. Japan would provide financial assistance to the South African energy sector, which included financing the Development Bank of Southern Africa to undertake renewable energy projects.