The government of Japan will announce financial aid to some 60 projects in Africa during the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) which will take place on August 27th and 28th in Nairobi (Kenya), The Japan Times reported on February 14, 2016, citing a source from government.

This aid, whose amount has not been revealed, is to mainly go to infrastructure projects, the same source adds. Projects which are to benefit from the Japanese aid also include development of natural gas extraction in Mozambique, the implementation of urban road networks in Nairobi and distribution of medical testing equipment for infectious diseases in Zambia.

A student exchange programme between Japan and Africa as well as a microloan system for African farmers are also part of Japan’s aid plans for Africa which are going to be revealed at the TICAD VI by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Tokyo’s new commitments to Africa aim to counter the growing influence of China on the continent. “Tokyo considers Africa the world’s largest major growth market and aims to offer high-quality, safety-focused infrastructure technology as an alternative to China’s,” said the official source cited by The Japan Times, indicating that Japan also aimed to gain support from African countries to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security council.

According to a study published in March 2015 by the international law firm Linklaters, Japan invest much more than China in Africa, contrary to the general belief. “Japanese investors accounted for $3.5 billion of the $4.2 billion of project funds that Asian nations poured into last Africa in 2014 to improve roads, water and sanitation and build oil and gas pipelines,” the study said. “Japan now ranks as the most active Asian project finance sponsor in Africa, investing almost three times as much as China, which is often regarded as the most active Asian investor on the continent,” it continues.

Linklaters highlighted that the two Asian giants have different approaches on the continent. “Japan has a much quieter and below-the-radar approach, less headline-grabbing than Chinese investment,” said Andrew Jones, director for Africa the firm which specializes in the counseling of companies, banks, financial institutions and governmental institutions.