Events

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
New economic report urges Africa to build credible institutions to boost industrialization

Abuja, Nigeria Sunday, March 30, 2014 – African countries need to introduce credible industrial policies and promote effective industrial policy organizations to enhance the structural transformation of the continent, says a new report jointly produced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission.
Transforming Africa’s industrial landscape has failed partly because countries used industrial blueprints characterised by lack of dynamism and high level coordination, as well as inadequate consultations with stakeholders, according to this year’s Economic Report on Africa.

Until now, says the report, an examination of Africa’s failure at industrialization had ignored the policy processes and institutions governing industrial policy in Africa or the impact of their inherent weaknesses on industrialization. “Indeed, weak institutional structures and poor policy design have been at the root of Africa’s industrial policy problem throughout its post-independence history,” the report declares.

The theme of this year’s report is “Dynamic industrial policy in Africa: innovative institutions, effective processes and flexible mechanisms.” While acknowledging Africa’s impressive economic growth in the past decade on the back of better commodity prices, improved governance and increasing domestic demand and trade and investment ties with emerging economies, it says that industrialization is a “precondition for Africa to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

Beyond an analysis of the continent’s industrialization problems, and based on the experience of industrializing countries in the global south, the report offers an institutional framework for designing and implementing industrial policy in Africa.

The report recommends that top-level coordination of the industrial policy framework is required to deal with potential problems that could undermine the efficiency of industrial policy. Making provision for dialogues between public sector and private stakeholders allows governments and the industrial policy organizations to be adaptable to the changing needs of industry, it counsels.

Regarding the provision of modern infrastructure and logistics necessary for industrialization, the report wants governments with few resources to create “pockets of infrastructure” focused on sectoral or clustering needs of industrial expansion. It recommends industrial parks as one approach which “provides high potential for growth and value addition as well as for solid linkage development and related spillovers among companies, suppliers and service providers.”

The report builds on the previous work of the 2011 edition—on the role of the state in economic transformation—and last year’s—on leveraging Africa’s comparative advantages in commodities to industrialize.
The report was launch in the presence of the continental and international media present at the Seventh Joint Annual Meetings of the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the AU Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance.

Media Contacts
Mercy Wambui, External Communications and Media Relations Section, Economic Commission for Africa, Tel: +234 (0)8094557268, Email: mwambui@uneca.org
Esther Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission (AUC), Tel: +234 (0)9094263843, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com
Sophia Denekew, External Communications and Media Relations Section, Economic Commission for Africa, Te: +234 (0) 9094263896 denekews@uneca.org
Salisu Saleh Na’inna, Chair, Publicity, Trade and Culture Sub-committee, Government of Nigeria Tel. : +234 (0) 8023144711, Email: salisusaleh002@gmail.com

Ministers of Economy, Planning, Finance and Economic Development meet in Abuja to strategise on industrialisation in Africa

Abuja, 25 March 2014 – Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping, Commissioner for Economic Affairs at the African Union Commission (AUC) has called on African governments to develop industrial policies that are aimed at reducing inequality at all levels. The Commissioner was speaking on 25 March 2014, while addressing experts at the opening ceremony of the meeting of the Committee of Experts of the Seventh Joint Annual Meeting of the UNECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the African Union Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance, holding in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the theme: Industralisation for inclusive and transformative development in Africa”.
Commissioner Maruping said most African economies have been performing well in terms of headline numbers without significant impact on the lives of the people. “Africans are therefore calling for major structural transformation to sustain the current economic performance,” he noted. He stressed that the next critical level is industrialization as the means to meaningfully join the global value and supply chains where opportunities and jobs are created. “Africans are therefore calling for Major structural transformation to sustain the current economic performance, but also to move to the next critical level, which is industrialization among others… Africans today want to take charge of their development agenda. This is demonstrated by the two historic and unprecedented continental processes…the Common African Position on post-2015 development agenda (CAP) and Africa Agenda 2063 processes”. He noted. (See complete speech of Commissioner Maruping on the AU website: www.au.int ).
Mr. Abdalla Hamdok , Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, on his part underscored that African countries need to channel their resources to activities in industry, manufacturing and modern services in order to create more employment and improve the welfare of vulnerable groups. He said the continent should focus on developing a manufacturing sector that is interlinked to other sectors of the economy and is capable of raising productivity. Addressing participants Mr Hamdok further explained that Africa’s growth potential remains largely untapped and the existence of spare capacity in Africa, suggests that growth can be fostered with policies that stimulate aggregate demand and trade within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world. He added that, the stimulation of aggregate demand requires greater internal articulation or close and mutually reinforcing links between various economic sectors and geographical regions. “despite its rapid economic growth over the last decade, Africa continues to display glaring contradictions between economic and social indicators, as poverty remains pervasive while unemployment among women and the youth remains very high. In a bid to tackle the
challenge, the focus of this year’s gathering is on industrialization for inclusive and transformative development of Africa”, he stated. (See complete speech of Mr. Hamdok on the AU website: www.au.int)
Mr Anatole Yehoan Tohougbe, Chairperson of the Outgoing Bureau of the Committee of Experts and Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Planning and Development of Cote d’Ivoire on the other hand presented the report of the meeting of the Extraordinary meeting of Expert of the African Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance (CAMEF) that preceded the COM14 meeting in Abuja from 21-24 March 2014. The issues were mostly focused on the alternative sources of finances of the Africa Union. “Africa’s path to development should focus on commodity-based industrialization, especially in developing a manufacturing sector that is interlinked to other sectors of the economy and is therefore capable of raising productivity and further enhancing the competitiveness of African economies in the global market” he underlined among other recommendations of the CAMEF.
Present at the opening were representative of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Abraham Nwankwo, Director General of Debt Management Office, Federal Republic of Nigeria; African Ambassadors; Members of the Diplomatic Community;and Senior Officials from Ministries of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as well as Central Banks.

Media Contacts
Mercy Wambui, External Communications and Media Relations Section, Economic Commission for Africa, Tel: +234 (0)8094557268, Email: mwambui@uneca.org
Esther Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission (AUC), Tel: +234 (0)9094263843, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com
Sophia Denekew, External Communications and Media Relations Section, Economic Commission for Africa, Te: +234 (0) 9094263896 denekews@uneca.org
Salisu Saleh Na’inna, Chair, Publicity, Trade and Culture Sub-committee, Government of Nigeria Tel. : +234 (0) 8023144711, Email: salisusaleh002@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE Nº028/ 2014

N’DJAMENA HOSTS EXPERT MEETING OF SHERPAS OF THE HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE OF ADVISORS ON POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

N’Djamena, Chad 25 February 2014- “We are determined to speak with one voice in the international fora on the Post 2015 Development Agenda” said Dr. Anthony Maruping, Commissioner of Economic Affairs of the African Union, while chairing the meeting of experts of the Sherpas of the High Level Committee Advisors on Post 2015 Development Agenda on 25 February 2014 in N’Djamena, Republic of Chad.

The Commissioner was speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. He expressed gratitude to H.E Idris Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad for accepting to host such an important and historical meeting in his country. The N’djamena spirit, Commissioner Maruping underlined, should prevail as the count down towards the 2015 deadline of the Post 2015 Development Agenda has begun.

Commissioner Maruping explained that, consultations are ongoing at all levels to ensure an all-inclusive bottom-top approach of the document on the African Common position on the Post 2015 Development Agenda so that Africans can take ownership of this document. “Speed is required in 2014”, the Commissioner said. He called on the participants to have fruitful summit compliant deliberations, in preparation of the High Level Committee meeting scheduled for 28 February 2014. (See complete speech of Commissioner Maruping on the AU website: www.au.int ).

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Economy , Planning and International Cooperation of Chad, Mrs. Mariam M. Nour outlined that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are composed of very noble causes that need to be taken seriously by all concerned policy makers. She said considerable progress has been made in the socio-economic and political areas but much still has to be done to accomplish the work expected from the High Level Committee.

The Chair of the expert group, Dr. Abdoulaye Dukule, Sherpa of H.E Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and Chair of the High Level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, underscored the need to brainstorm on the communication strategy of the HLC among others, to enable good popularization of the activities of the Sherpas of the HLC on the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

Organised by the African Union Department of Economic Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Chad and the office of the Chair of the High Level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, the meeting is a follow up of the 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 30-31 January 2014, that adopted the Common African Position (CAP) on the post 2015 development agenda to serve as Africa’s input to the global post 2015 development agenda.

The objective of the N’djamena meeting is to launch the CAP and formulate a strategy for advocacy, negotiation and forging alliances.

The opening ceremony took place in the presence of H.E Ahmad Awad Sakine, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad in Addis Ababa and to the African Union. Other participants included: the representatives of Algeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Liberia, Namibia, South Africa, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African Development Bank (AfDB), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The High Level Committee (HLC) was established at the 21st Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in May 2013, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to finalize the draft African Common Position and build regional and intercontinental alliances around the post 2015 Development Agenda.
The High Level Committee includes two Heads of State and Government from each of the five regions of the continent and is chaired by Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of the Republic of Liberia.

During the Assembly, Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf presented the Draft Common African Position which is the outcome of a series of consultations with a wide spectrum of African stakeholders since 2011. The document is structured around five pillars and enablers i.e..
• Pillar 1: Structural Economic Transformation
• Pillar 2: Science, technology and innovation
• Pillar 3: People-centered development
• Pillar4: Environmental sustainability, natural resources management and disaster risk management
• Pillar 5: Finance and Partnerships

The document also identified peace and security; good governance, transparency and fighting corruption; enabling governance architecture; human rights for all; macroeconomic policy; private sector development; a credible participatory process; monitoring and evaluation; traditional knowledge; and capacity development as key enablers for implementation.

The Assembly expressed a need for a Post-2015 Development Agenda that remains focused on completing the unfinished business of the MDGs, whilst also incorporating new and emerging challenges. It also expressed its aspirations for a global agenda that creates an enabling environment for Africa to transform its economies, pursue sustainable development, strengthen resilience and promote an agenda that encourages open and accountable governance supported by strong, mutually beneficial and diversified global partnerships. The Assembly further requested to bring peace and security upfront as a pillar and emphasized the need for a standing committee to follow up, monitor and report the implementation of the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT

Attached is the draft work program and agenda of the of Sherpas of the High Level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda

Media contact: Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou, Senior Editorial Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com

VITAL IMPORTANCE OF STATISTICS IN AFRICAN POLICY MAKING HIGHLIGHTED AT DIRECTOR GENERALS’ MEETING

Johannesburg, South Africa 5 December 2013- Africa needs statistics that are accurate, dependable and that are available on a timely basis in order to provide reliable data on which administrators can make decisions. By being in control of its own data, the continent will be well positioned to tell its own story rather than wait for others to do so on its behalf. Such data would help shape national policies as well as ensure the successful implementation of such policies at many levels across the development spectrum. In this way, statistics can positively contribute to the development and implementation of Agenda 2063- a framework being developed by the African Union to map out Africa’s development trajectory over the next fifty years.

These were the main messages coming out of this morning’s opening session of the 7th Meeting of the Committee of Directors General of National Statistics Offices being held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting, organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank, includes Directors General of National Statistics Officers (CoDGs), statisticians from African Union member states, and development partners.

The theme for the meeting is “Production of economic statistics in Africa”. Over the course of the three day meeting, the delegates will
• Discuss the challenges linked to the production of economic statistics
• Review the implementation of the African Charter on statistics and the harmonisation of statistics in Africa (SHaSA) as well as the operationalisation of the African Institute of Statistics and the Pan African Statistical Training Center
• Contribute to the formulation of the Africa development agenda 2063.

“Clearly, recognition of the need for adequate statistics which are accurate, dependable, and that are available on a timely basis is widespread nationally, regionally and internationally”, AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Dr Anthony Maruping said today.

Dr Maruping recalled that in the past, data was sometimes generated from “interpolations, extrapolations and guesstimates”. Consequently national data would then be based on “inadequate, inaccurate and awfully stale data”, the Commissioner said, adding that in many instances, national statistics accounts are at best three years in arrears and monetary statistics are six weeks behind. To overcome these challenges he called for a revision of national policies and for the provision of adequately qualified staff who are well equipped and well supplied.

Today’s opening ceremony was also addressed by Dr Chukwudozie of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Dr Oliver Chinyanga of the African Development Bank, and Mr Pali Lehola the Statistician General of South Africa.

The outcomes of this meeting will be presented to Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning before being considered by African Heads of State and Government so that they can be adopted and implemented.

For further information contact
Mrs Wynne Musabayana I Deputy Head of Communication and Information | African Union Commission I E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | wynnemusabayana@yahoo.com I Web www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

About the African Union
African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. The AU Vision is that of aprosperous, integrated, and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena.