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Date

2022/8/24 (Wed)17:00-18:30（JST）

Field

KAIZEN, Industrialization

Type of Event

Online Webinar

Co-Host

African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)

Background

The benefits of implementing Kaizen/QPI to improve the productivity of industries in Africa were recognized as early as at the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) held in Nairobi in 2016. Following this high-level recognition, an agreement known as the Africa Kaizen Initiative (AKI) was made between JICA and AUDA-NEPAD in April 2017, sealing a commitment to cooperate in the dissemination of Kaizen in Africa for 10 years (2017-2027). The main purpose of AKI is to accelerate African industrialization by enhancing quality and productivity and creating decent work and employment opportunities. At the halfway point in the initiative, it could also help to reaffirm that the Kaizen/QPI approach is still strong and useful to promote industrialization and decent job creation within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Questions

• How can we underscore the implementation of AKI and its impact and enhance its implementation?
• How can Kaizen accelerate African industrialization, develop African firms' global competitiveness, and create decent jobs?
• What is the role of AKI in contributing to the realization of AfCFTA’s mission?

Objective

1) To create a common understanding among countries regarding the current status of AKI and devise strategies to enhance AKI implementation by supporting African ownership
2) To review Kaizen in order to accelerate African industrialization and develop firm global competitiveness and decent jobs
3) To establish a clear understanding among the Member States on the role of AKI in order to contribute to the realization of AfCFTA's mission

Speakers

Ms. Nardos Bekele Thomas

CEO, AUDA-NEPAD

Mme. Neila Nouira Gonji

Minister of Industry Mines and Energy, Republic of Tunisia

H.E. Mr. Achille Bassilekin III

Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft, Republic of Cameroon

Hon. Soomilduth Bholah

Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Republic of Mauritius

Mr. Getahun Tadesse Mekonen

Principal Kaizen Consultant

Mr. Kossi Toulassi

Head, Industrialization Division, AUDA-NEPAD

Mr. Khaled Daami

General Manager, Eleonetech (2020 Africa Kaizen Award winner, Tunisian company)

Mr. Asnake Gudisa Gonfa

Managing Director, Kaizen Excellence Center

Prof. OHNO Izumi

National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)

Mr. HOMMA Toru

Senior Advisor (Private Sector Development: Investment, Trade & Industry), JICA

Ms. IMOTO Sachiko

Senior Vice President, JICA

*The deadline for registration is 17:00, Tuesday, August 23 (Japan time).