Japan to Use ODA for Economic Security

Tokyo, Feb. 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to use its official development assistance to enhance economic security, a draft proposal showed Friday. The ODA will be used to address economic security concerns, including securing energy supplies and critical minerals, according to the draft of the 2025 white paper on development cooperation. The draft also calls for strengthening relations with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The draft was approved at a joint meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Foreign Affairs Division and other groups. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will report the draft at a cabinet meeting shortly. In 2024, Japan’s ODA declined 15.9 pct from the previous year to 16,493.53 million dollars, making it the fourth-largest ODA donor, after the United States, Germany and Britain, and slipping one spot for the first time in four years. The draft also emphasizes the importance of cooperation with emerging and developing countries in the Global South, seeking to promote investment in Africa. It also calls for promoting proactive cooperation through ODA projects. The draft also features achievements made by a Japanese government program that sends volunteers to developing countries, which marked its 60th anniversary last year and is run by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]