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In an effort to challenge rival China’s influence, which has progressively increased its economic footprint on the continent, Japan kicked off the Japan-Africa investment conference in Tunisia on Saturday.
The coronavirus pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have created a “difficult” international climate, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
The event, in Tunis’s capital is scheduled to draw about 30 leaders of state and government at a time when the import-dependent country of North Africa is struggling with a worsening economic downturn.
