Jonathan, ECOWAS Leaders To Meet Japanese PM In Abidjan

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 09, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan will travel to Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire on Friday afternoon to attend a meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

President Jonathan and other ECOWAS Heads of State and Government are scheduled to confer with the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr.

Shinzo Abe who will also arrive in the Ivorian capital on Friday at the head of a high-powered Japanese Trade Mission targeting expanded business opportunities in Africa, a statement from the Nigerian Presidency said Thursday.

The statement signed by Reuben Abati, President Jonathan's spokesman, said, Mr.

Abe's meeting in Abidjan with President Jonathan and other ECOWAS leaders is a follow-up to the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) held in June last year which discussed trade, investment, peace and stability in Africa.

The Japanese Prime Minister's talks with ECOWAS Heads of State and Government are expected to boost economic cooperation between Japan and countries in the sub-region.

President Jonathan who is due back in Abuja on Saturday will be accompanied to Abidjan by the Minister of Works, Mr.

Mike Onolememen, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr.

Nurudeen Mohammed and his Chief Economic Adviser, Dr.

Nwanze Okidigbe, Abati added.