The African Development Bank has launched the Africa-Asia (A-A) Platform, a new initiative aimed at strengthening knowledge transfer, technology exchange and innovation between the two regions. The rollout ceremony took place at the United Nations University in Tokyo and brought together senior leaders from the African Development Bank Group, the University of Pretoria and the University of Tokyo, reflecting strong institutional collaboration behind the platform.
Supported by Japan’s Policy and Human Resource Development Grant, the platform is built around several core components. These include establishing an Africa-Asia knowledge partnership, fostering dialogue to support public and private sector initiatives in Africa, and enhancing individual and institutional research capacity through inter-university networking and collaborative research. The initiative aligns with commitments made during the TICAD9 conference in Yokohama, which emphasized co-creating innovative solutions with Africa.
During the launch, leaders highlighted the platform’s potential to advance innovation, entrepreneurship and public-private partnerships. The Bank’s President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, noted that the initiative marks a new phase of Africa-Asia cooperation, positioning youth as key drivers of innovation and job creation. University leaders echoed this vision, emphasizing the essential role of higher education institutions in bridging geographic and institutional gaps, fostering research collaboration and supporting new business and policy partnerships.
The Africa-Asia Platform complements ongoing African Development Bank innovation programs such as the Pan African University Phase 2 and the ENNOVA project, an AI-powered entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through their collaboration, the Bank, the University of Pretoria and the University of Tokyo aim to expand opportunities for skills development, youth entrepreneurship and innovation, contributing to Africa’s long-term sustainable development.
