Nairobi, Kenya – 19th February 2018. The Department of Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission organized the 7th Strategic Stakeholders Retreat on Industry under the theme: “Implementation Review of the Plan of Action for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA)”. AUC-DTI took the decision to review the AIDA implementation progress. The meeting is attended by the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), UNIDO, UNECA, UNDP, Afreximbank, and Members States.

The review further provided information to the ongoing current frameworks within the Industry Division and stakeholders; explore why the interventions implemented by the project succeeded or not and provide guidance for improving future interventions. It serves as instrument for the overall accountability by assessing whether the program was fulfilled with adequate resources and if these resources were used in a responsible way.

The purpose of this review was to take stock of the implementation of the programme to date, assess progress achieved so far and highlight the strengths and success stories as well weakness of the processes and instruments put in place for the achievements. It also provided recommendations on the way forward for the new format of the program and actions that need to be undertaken thereof.

The meeting also prepared the establishment of a dedicated task force to the implementation of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA). The implementation of the business plan requires the coordination of many actors across the pharmaceutical manufacturing system therefore the Establishment of a task force is to facilitate the implementation of the PMPA, consider annual reviews and report on the status of implémentation of PMPA in Africa to the AU Assembly through the Specialized Technical Committee on Trade, Industry and Mineral or through the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control (STC-HPDC).

In his opening remarks, Mr. Hussein Hassan, head of Industry, on behalf of the Director of Trade and Industry Mrs. Treasure Maphanga pointed out that as a blue print for generations to come, Agenda 2063 places greater importance on issues of collective partnerships, ownership, and the roles of various stakeholders in helping realize the objectives of a unified continent that is able to drive its own development agenda in a way that is inclusive, transformative and equitable in its processes and outcomes.

According to him, this is also at the heart of AIDA, a continental strategy for Africa’s Industrialisation Agenda. As such this meeting is very crucial as it will provide us with an opportunity to take stock of the implementation progress of AIDA in terms of its strengths, success, weakness and achievements. The meeting will also allow us to identify the key challenges and come up with recommendations for the way forward.

“The structural transformation of our economies must be an essential component of any long-term strategy to ensure the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, including eradicating poverty and underpinning sustainable growth and development across our continent.” he concluded.

The meeting concluded recommendations On the AIDA Strategy and Action Plan, On governance and coordination, On the AIDA financing and resource mobilization strategy, and finally on the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa Strategy and it’s implementation.

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For further information, please contact Mrs. Ron Osman Omar, Senior Industry Policy Officer, Email: OmarR@africa-union.org

Media contacts:

Aminata Jeanne DIOP - Department of Trade and Industry – Tel: +251 987846962 - Email: DiopAJ@africa-union.org

Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC Tel. +251 911361185, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

For further information: Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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