New York — Africa investor (Ai), a leading international investment and communications group, today announced that the Ai African Heads of State Investment Advisory Council Working Lunch, co-hosted by UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the Global Partnerships Forum and the African Union Commission, facilitated critical insights on business and government partnerships required to implement the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa.
The exclusive, by invitation-only gathering was attended by five Heads of State, over 250 of Africa’s most prominent and influential business and development finance leaders, and a number of Ministers responsible for finance and strategic economic sectors in Africa.The meeting was opened by Hubert Danso, CEO and Vice Chairman, Africa investor Group, and Mr. Maged Abdelaziz, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, and was facilitated by Amir Dossal, Chairman of the Global Partnerships Forum.
Participating government leaders included H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda; H.E. Prof. Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi; H.E. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia; H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and H.E. James Wani Igga, Vice President of South Sudan.
Commenting on the African Heads of State Investment gathering, Mr. Abdelaziz said, “Africa needs massive investment to address its lack of infrastructure, such as roads and power plants, to transform the lives of its people and sustain its future as envisioned in its new plan, Agenda 2063. But Africa is not looking for handouts; it is already mobilising funds at home. Many countries have issued international sovereign bonds to raise money to finance large infrastructure projects. Rather, Africa, which will have the world's largest work force by 2035, is offering an opportunity to everyone to invest in the world's future."
The Council was launched in 2011 at the New York Stock Exchange in partnership with the African Union, UN OSAA and the Global Partnerships Forum as a platform to engage Heads of State on the investment agenda during the UN General Assembly. Africa investor presented a powerful Business Statement to government leaders negotiating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)entitled: The Business of African Development Economic Development: Implementing the Sustainable Development and Finance Goals in Support of Agenda 2063.
This Africa investor Business Statement reflected the recommendations and collective views of private sector leaders working in Africa on required partnerships and optimal ways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The Business Statement recommendations were welcomed by the Heads of State and it was agreed that they will also be taken up during the Ai Presidential CEO Investment Summit to be held in partnership with NEPAD and the African Union in January 2016, during the AU Heads of State Summit in Ethiopia.
Hubert Danso, CEO and Vice Chairman of Africa investor, said, “The active participation of our Heads of State sends a strong message to the investment community about their commitment to transforming the continent’s prosperity using the SDGs and Agenda 2063 as the framework. Africa investor is therefore delighted to have provided the leadership in adding the voice of the business and investment community working in Africa on the SDGs, as well as the engagement of the investment community in support of Agenda 2063.”
Heavy emphasis was placed by Heads of State on their commitment to engaging the private sector on infrastructure investment partnerships, creating the conditions to fast track regional economic integration and to better engage the private sector on strategies to implement the Continental Free Trade Area.
Amir Dossal, Chairman of the Global Partnerships Forum, commented, “The Global Partnerships Forum truly believes in the positive power of partnerships and the impactful role businesses working in Africa can play in supporting African Heads of State, and Africa, in achieving the Sustainable Developments Goals.”
African Heads of State will convene again to discuss progress on the implementation of the Statement’s recommendations at the Ai Presidential CEO Investment Summit on the margins of the African Union Summit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28-29 January 2016.
For more information on Africa investor, contact Catherine Wright on +27 11 783 2431 or cwright@africainvestor.com.
About Africa investor - www.africainvestor.com Africa investor is a specialist investment and communications firm advising governments, international organisations and businesses on strategies for capital market and foreign direct investments in Africa. Africa investor publishes Africa investor, the leading international newsstand magazine for Africa’s investment decision makers; maintains the Africa investor 40 Investors’ Index, hosts the Ai Index Series Summit & Awards and the Africa investor Infrastructure Projects Summit & Awards, among other events.
About UNOSAA – http://www.un.org/en/africa/osaa/
The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) was officially established on 1 March 2003 to enhance international support for Africa's development and security through its advocacy and analytical work, assist the Secretary-General in improving coherence and coordination of the UN System support to Africa, and facilitate inter-governmental deliberations on Africa at the global level, in particular relating to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
About Global Partnerships Forum – www.partnerships.org
The Global Partnerships Forum is a membership-driven organization that provides a platform for innovative partnerships and alliances. It brings together leaders from across sectors to address global challenges, and fosters economic growth, by moving the needle beyond aid to economic empowerment.
