Talking Points for the meeting with Partners
• I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to this very important meeting this morning, the first of its kind since I assume office in Addis in my Department. I, in particular welcome those whose today is the first time to engage with us, please you are most welcome and I do hope this engagement will bear fruits.
• I say this is an important meeting because of your valued support not only to the administrative work of the Commission but also your contribution to Africa’s overall Development Agenda in various aspects.
• We possibly cannot carry out our role and responsibilities towards our member states and particularly our coordination role without your support. So allow me to thank you again.
• I would therefore, like to inform you that with your support (The EU), the DTI was able to execute most of its mandate last year 2013 where we achieved 96% execution of our budget. This would not have been possible without your support especially towards boosting the capacity of the Department.
• This year we are targeting to do even much better since our budget is higher than last year and our department is also boosted higher with the new recruitments particularly under the USAID where we have 5 key staff, Common Wealth 2 and EC 1 and potentially 2 more.
o This year was declared the year of agriculture and food security and as such we will be able, and we are compelled, to even plan for projects that can be implemented outside our regular and special projects budgets. This year, we will achieve the followings:
In Trade: Adoption of the IP of the BIAT, Workplan for the CFTA negotiation, International Trade positions, Adoption of both the Trade Observatory, and the BC.
In Industry: RECs Bankable projects, Customized SME Business linkages and Training program, with emphasis on Women and Youth, institutionalization and long term Sustainability of the AMDC, strategy for implementation of Africa Agri-Business and Agro-industries Initiative (3ADI) with a focus on Commodities Regional and Global Value Chains, and the Investment Monitoring Platform (IMP) work with Customs on Rules of Origin, finalize work plan for the improving Quality Infrastructure and on Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Action Plan (PMPA) regulatory framework and model law implemented with Recs, Strategic institutions and Member States,
In Custom (RoO for the CFTA, Ethics and Integrety in Customs) ;
o Next year 2015, CFTA Negotiations begin and as such preparations are so demanding and our member states are not likely to let us off the hook if we do not meet the targets
o Under BIAT we do have a number of targets to achieve particularly under the building of productive capacities for global competitiveness especially for the SMEs especially women and youth to enable them to integrate into regional and global value chains (both in Agro-based Industries and Extractive industries).
o Still under BIAT, we will be doing quite a lot on Trade in Services
o Strengthening the private sector policy dialogue through establishment of the African Business Council,
o Establishment of the Trade Observatory that will include Investment Monitoring Platform for well informed policy formulation,
o With the signing of the BALI agreement, we will be thinking about how to support member states to implement their Trade Facilitation Programmes but also to think critically on how to enhance the competitiveness of member States’ economies,
o We have been mandated to develop a Commodities Strategy to ensure that African economies benefit from moving up the value chains in priority commodity value chains as a means of mitigating international price related shocks.
o We shall be working with our partners in the Quality Infrastructure to enhance competitiveness for both Intra-regional and extra-regional trade;
o In customs and as a preparations for the CFTA we will be working on Rules of Origin
o We will undertake assessment on implementation of Regional and Bilateral agreements as a basis for negotiating continental agreements. Etc
• So the need for support will be even higher in diverse areas including, Building Productive capacities and technological capabilities, Trade negotiations, Trade Facilitation, Trade Development and Trade Promotion, Green Technology, SMEs particularly women in Business Competitiveness enhancement, trade in services, strengthening the private sector for private – public policy dialogue through establishment of the African Business Council, among others
• I therefore do believe that your meeting today is so timely for the Department and for the commission as a whole.
• I know Colleagues here especially James will be taking you through more detailed work streams so allow me to wish you fruitful deliberations and thank you once again.
Thank you
