Appointment of the Representative of the Government of Japan to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
ABUJA, Nigeria, December 14, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — At the Cabinet Meeting held on 11 December, the Government of Japan decided to appoint Mr Toshitsugu Uesawa, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, to be concurrently the first Representative of the Government of Japan to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its headquarters is located in Abuja, Nigeria.
ECOWAS is a regional organization with 15 member states, mainly of West African region. Established in May 1975 with a view to promoting economic integration within the region, ECOWAS has also strengthened its capability in the field of politics, security, and conflict resolution and prevention. In particular, it provides significant contribution to the solution of conflicts and establishment of peace within the region, through its mediation activities and dispatch of peace keeping missions. It also enhances its efforts in dealing with such issues as drugs, small arms, democracy and governance.
At the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in May 2008, emphasis was placed on the importance of deepening regional integration for effectively promoting African development. It is expected that the appointment of the Government Representative to ECOWAS will further strengthen Japan’s relationship with ECOWAS, which plays a vital role in regional integration.
SOURCE
Japan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
