Mali-Japan Bilateral Cooperation: TOKTEN Program at the Center of Strategic Exchanges

Bamako, December 30, 2025 The Minister for Malians Living Abroad and African Integration, Mossa Ag Attaher, on Tuesday received His Excellency Yukuo Murata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mali, for high-level discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Mali and Japan. The Japanese Ambassador was accompanied by Dr. Oussouby Sacko, a Malian architect based in Japan and Executive Director of the Universities of Tokyo, whose presence highlighted the growing role of the Malian diaspora in fostering academic, technical, and development cooperation between the two countries. At the heart of the discussions was the TOKTEN Program (Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals), an initiative supported by Japan that aims to mobilize skilled professionals from the diaspora to contribute to development efforts in their countries of origin. The program enables highly qualified expatriates to temporarily return home to share expertise in key sectors such as education, technology, urban planning, governance, and innovation. Minister Mossa Ag Attaher praised Japan’s continued commitment to human capital development and emphasized the strategic importance of the Malian diaspora in national reconstruction and sustainable development. He reaffirmed the government’s determination to create favorable conditions that encourage skilled Malians abroad to actively participate in the country’s transformation. Ambassador Murata, for his part, reiterated Japan’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Mali, particularly in areas related to capacity building, higher education, and technical expertise transfer. He highlighted the TOKTEN program as a practical and effective framework for strengthening people-to-people ties and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. Dr. Oussouby Sacko underscored the importance of academic collaboration and innovation, noting that partnerships between Malian institutions and Japanese universities could significantly contribute to training a new generation of skilled professionals capable of addressing Mali’s development challenges. The meeting reflects the shared ambition of Bamako and Tokyo to reinforce their bilateral partnership through knowledge exchange, diaspora engagement, and sustainable development initiatives, positioning the TOKTEN program as a key instrument in this cooperation.

Faits rapportés

Bamako, December 30, 2025 The Minister for Malians Living Abroad and African Integration, Mossa Ag Attaher, on Tuesday received His Excellency Yukuo Murata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mali, for high-level discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Mali and Japan. The Japanese Ambassador was accompanied by Dr. Oussouby Sacko, a Malian architect based in Japan and Executive Director of the Universities of Tokyo, whose presence highlighted the growing role of the Malian diaspora in fostering academic, technical, and development cooperation between the two countries. At the heart of the discussions was the TOKTEN Program (Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals), an initiative supported by Japan that aims to mobilize skilled professionals from the diaspora to contribute to development efforts in their countries of origin. The program enables highly qualified expatriates to temporarily return home to share expertise in key sectors such as education, technology, urban planning, governance, and innovation. Minister Mossa Ag Attaher praised Japan’s continued commitment to human capital development and emphasized the strategic importance of the Malian diaspora in national reconstruction and sustainable development. He reaffirmed the government’s determination to create favorable conditions that encourage skilled Malians abroad to actively participate in the country’s transformation. Ambassador Murata, for his part, reiterated Japan’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Mali, particularly in areas related to capacity building, higher education, and technical expertise transfer. He highlighted the TOKTEN program as a practical and effective framework for strengthening people-to-people ties and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. Dr. Oussouby Sacko underscored the importance of academic collaboration and innovation, noting that partnerships between Malian institutions and Japanese universities could significantly contribute to training a new generation of skilled professionals capable of addressing Mali’s development challenges. The meeting reflects the shared ambition of Bamako and Tokyo to reinforce their bilateral partnership through knowledge exchange, diaspora engagement, and sustainable development initiatives, positioning the TOKTEN program as a key instrument in this cooperation.