Accra, Jan. 31, – African Heads of State has called for
partnership and not support from global bodies; “we have a clear mandate to
work with both public and private enterprises, to ensure the business
environment is favourable and attractive to the international business
community.
"This effort to draw
business leaders into this conversation about public-private sector investment
in Africa. This is long overdue and I trust that it will become a regular event
during our Summits," President Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and
current Chairman of the African Union has stated.
President Kagame stated this at a
forum hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in
partnership with Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), for Heads of State from
five African countries, at the inaugural Africa Business and Investment Forum,
at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The forum was organised on the
margins of the African Union (AU) Summit. It served as a high-level platform
for U.S. and African private sector engagement, which also discussed diverse
issues including Trade and Diversification, Energy, Agribusiness, and Health.
President Kagame’s presentation
was made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra through the Communications
Section of the Economic Commission on Africa (ECA) based in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.
The forum also sought to deepen
the on-going dialogue around Africa to increase opportunities for business
partnerships, secure commitments to as well as track the adoption of
business-friendly policies, and showcase countries and policies that are
contributing to an enabling environment for enhanced African regional and
global trade and investment.
Ms Vera Songwe, ECA Executive
Secretary said: “Today’s Africa Business and Investment Forum demonstrated a
real commitment by our African leaders that they are focussed on paving the way
for private investors in the United States of America and the rest of the
international community, to invest in Africa”.
Florie Liser, President and CEO
Corporate Council on Africa described the forum as a great opportunity for UN
and AU leadership to hear the voice of international private enterprises and
investors who want to do business with Africa.
The forum was also to ensure that
business relations between the U.S. and the continent continue to grow.
The business forum was attended
by five African leaders including; President Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda;
Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn; and President Yoweri
Museveni, President of Uganda.
The rest were; President
Mahamadou Issoufou, Niger; President
Macky Sall, Senegal; President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya; and President Filipe
Nyusi, President of Mozambique.
Over 150 CEOs and senior
executives of key U. S. and African companies, both multinationals and SMEs’
participated in the Forum.
GNA
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