Japan's PM to pledge $30bn to help Africa's growth

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to announce a 30 billion-dollar plan to develop Africa's economy with the country's private sector. Japan is preparing to host the three-day International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, which will open in Yokohama on Saturday, according to Japan's (NHK WORLD) website. The conference will bring together leaders of about 40 African nations, as well as representatives of the United Nations and the World Bank. In his opening speech, Abe will unveil plans to extend a total of about 30 billion dollars over the next five years to the African continent. The government will fund about 14 billion dollars with the remainder coming from the private sector. Abe is to say the aid will cover infrastructure, human resources, public health and agriculture. The infrastructure includes roads linking the coast with inland regions, as well as power grids. Abe will also announce plans to provide internship programs to African students who come to study in Japanese universities.