Abuja — The 2013 Economic Report of Africa jointly produced by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) will be launched in Abuja on July 11.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will deliver the keynote address at the public presentation in Nigeria at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, starting at 9 a.m., ECA said today in a statement released in Abuja.
This year's report focuses on taking advantage of Africa's commodities to industrialize the continent in a bid to produce growth, jobs and economic transformation. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala's address is expected to give a policymaker's perspective to the question whether Africa can leverage on primary commodities to industrialize.
Commodity-based industrialization as an engine of growth for Africa. "We argue that African countries have a real opportunity, individually and collectively, to promote economic transformation and to address poverty, inequality and youth unemployment," reiterate ECA experts.
"The report is based on nine studies of African countries, which have helped to generate evidence-based policy recommendations. The policy framework offered underscores, inter alia, the importance of designing and implementing effective development plans and industrial strategies to address constraints and tap opportunities that will trigger value addition and commodity-based industrialization."
Chidi Uwazurike, Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Petroleum and the Niger Delta of the House of Representatives, is billed to lead discussions at the event.
Other speakers include Prof. Akpan Ekpo, Director-General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Mr. Frank Nweke, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, and Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Bank Plc.
For further information, please contact Dr. Ebere Uneze:
Telephone: +234 816 325 7791
Email: euneze[at]cseaafrica[dot]org
Issued by:
ECA External Communications and Media Relations Section
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: ecainfo[at]uneca[dot]org
www.uneca.org
