OPENING STATEMENT OF H.E. ELHAM IBRAHIM, COMMISSIONNER IN CHARGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY, AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION, AT THE CONTRACTS’ SIGNING CEREMONY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PORT MORESBY AGREEMENT IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EU-AFRICA PARTNERSHIP ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
Monday, December 20th, 2010
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, AUC-CR3

Your Excellency Ambassador- Vervaeke
Dear Representatives of the selected companies and consulting firms
Dear Colleagues

I wish to thank you for your presence at this today important event - THE SIGNING OF THE CONTRACTS FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE
Today is a special day for all. It is the concretization of a long process that starts few months ago.

It is the concretization of the partnership that started in 2007 between the African Union and the European Union.

I shall thank Ambassador Vervaeke and his team for the continuous support and professionalism during the entire process of selection of the Consultants, the drafting of the RFPs and selection of the firms
My thanks go also to IGIS BCEOM and to the African Union Staff for the hard work.

Today's event is within the context implementation the EU-Africa partnerships on Infrastructure and Energy and is also part of the 10 Million Euros Port Moresby agreement.

It also in line with the orientation of the Chair of African Union Commission toward the implementation of concrete and tangible projects for the benefits of African Citizens.

I wouldn’t dwell a lot on the process but let me express my satisfaction of the outcomes and my hope that the way forward will follow the same path of good work and professionalism.

My congratulations to you all and to the selected firms

Thank you.