PIC Coffee Hour with Tunisian Ambassador

Tokyo, February 21, 2006 --- The 3rd session of "Coffee Hour with African Ambassadors" was held today at the World Bank Public Information Center in Tokyo (PIC Tokyo), inviting His Excellency Ambassador Salah Hannachi of the Republic of Tunisia to Japan as the main guest speaker. About 20 people from civil society, academics and private sector gathered to learn more about the country.

Starting with geography in the northern edge of the African continent, Ambassador Hannachi explained about cultural and historical features, and economic/trade structure of Tunisia, as "melting-pot of Africa, the Mediterranean, and Muslin cultures", as described by Ambassador.  He also mentioned the capital relations between his country and Japan, particularly uniqueness and historical background of Tunisia's bond issued in Japan.

Following the keynote speech, Professor Takehiko Haraguchi, former professor of Niigata University of International and Information Studies, shared his perspectives about the country's future, and personal experience of living in the country for conducting his research.  Professor Haraguchi said he was "only one living in Tunis in  is known in Japan as the expert of the Franco-phone African countries.

Ambassador Hannachi currently serves as Dean of the African Diplomatic Corp in Tokyo, leading the diplomatic representatives from Africa in Japan. 

TICAD Civil Society Forum, the co-organizer of Coffee Hour series, is the research and advocacy organization joined by experts of Africa in Japan, focusing on bilateral and multilateral assistance to African countries.

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