Africa – Russia Cooperation: AUC Chairperson discusses business opportunities with Russian International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Moscow 1st May 2013–The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zumaheld a working session on 29 April 2013 with the International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs(ICIE) of the Russian Federation, to discuss business and investment opportunities in Africa. The AUC Chairperson was welcomed on arrival to this meeting by the board members of the ICIE Council led by Mr. Anatoly Tkachuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Council.

During the working session, Dr. Dlamini Zuma underlined the importance of establishing a win-win relationship given the long historical relationship between Russia and Africa and considering the fact that Africa has a lot of potentials as well as natural resources which need to be transformed into concreteoutcomes actions aimed at enhancing Africa’s post 2015 development agenda.

Addressing the business entrepreneurs, Dr, Dlamini Zuma said the African continent is majorly made up of a youth full population which will constitute a growing market in the near future. “It is in this light that I want to encourage Russian investment” she noted, particularly in the areas of infrastructure;energy development and management; mining; science and technology, including research; innovation and knowledge management / skills development; agro-business among others.

The AUC Chairperson commended the Russian Government for offering scholarships to African scholars given that over 8000 students are currently studying in various socio-economic and scientific fields in Russian universities. She called for the shedding of Russia’s excess human capacity to contribute directly to capacity development on the continent, by seconding such personnel to train and conduct research in African institutions such as the Pan African University.

A Memorandum of understanding was signed between the AUC Chairperson and the vice president of the International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneur, Mr. Viacheslav Pshenichnikov. Both parties agreed to maintain regular consultation through open dialogue and improve communication and information sharing to raise awareness on the partnership.

A press conference concluded the working session followed by a 45 minute conversation with a major Russian newspaper.

Worth recalling is that the ICIE is a nongovernmental organisation created in 1992. Currently,it cooperates with the national unions of industrialist and entrepreneurs from 26 European and Asian countries, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of member nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IA-CIS). Furthermore, theICIE has formalized relations for long term cooperation with the international center for scientific and technical information as well as the general confederation of trade unions.

For more information on the official visit of AUC Chairperson to Russia, consult the AU website: www.au.int