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AFD Group strengthens its alliances in East Asia to support sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific region
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In line with President Emmanuel Macron’s tour of East Asia from April 1 to 3, AFD Group has further consolidated its partnerships with Japanese and South Korean development agencies to accelerate financing for sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific region and partner countries.
AFD Group's cooperation with Japan and South Korea has entered a new phase, having signed three agreements that reflect a shared vision. By strengthening international cooperation, it aims to make concrete progress on sustainable development and ensure the stability, sovereignty, and resilience of the Indo-Pacific region.
AFD has renewed a three-year declaration of cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), building on the momentum of the Franco-Japanese Cooperation Roadmap since 2019, when the first agreement was signed. This partnership constitutes a renewed commitment to shared priorities: climate change, energy and biodiversity, quality infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship, development finance, and human development in fragile states. The goal is to mobilize resources for climate change adaptation, energy transition and biodiversity conservation projects, as well as for health, education and gender equality, while supporting vulnerable populations, particularly those experiencing forced displacement.
In South Korea, AFD Group signed a new agreement with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) from 2026 to 2029. This agreement covers eleven strategic areas, including disaster risk reduction, sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation, food security, agriculture, health, education, peace, stability, and human rights. The objective is to develop structured and sustainable cooperation programs to support partner countries in Asia, as well as other developing countries that remain particularly vulnerable.
AFD, PROPARCO and KEXIM Global have signed a second agreement for 2026-2028 to support private-sector financing in developing countries. In particular, it will draw on the Private Sector Development Investment Facility (PDIF), launched by KEXIM Global in 2024, to facilitate co-financing, structure joint operations, and promote innovative solutions that can plug financing gaps in the areas where it is most needed.