- Ahead of a summit of African heads of states summit next month, the two-day African Union/European Union business forum opened in the Ghanaian capital Accra. The forum was launched in November 2006.
Dr Maxwell Mkwezalamba, the AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs who addressed the opening programme, called for the need to build strong linkages between African and European private sectors and that AU and EU should foster strong trade partnership.
Dr Mkwezalamba said for effective and strong partnership to flourish between the two continents, there must be linkages that facilitate exchange of information, technology transfer as well as building of strategic alliance.
He said holding annual forum brings out lofty ideas and recommendations, which must be implemented. Dr Mkwezalamba therefore called on AU and EU to demonstrate strong commitment in implementing the outcome of the meetings, which matters most.
Louis Michel, the EU Commissioner said the AU has become a key political force and an engine of change for the African continent because the energy and quality of the project have made the union a credible force.
He however recommended the need for what he called ambitious political partnership between the two communities. Mr Michel saw this as vital for mutual cooperation between the AU and EU.
“It was high time for EU to draw up a strategy to help Africa reverse the trend of its growing marginalisation in world trade,” he recommended, disclosing that Africa’s share in the world export has dropped by 60%. The continent also records a yearly loss of US $70 billion.
Ghana’s Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, used the platform to blast the European governments to avoid harbouring negative perceptions about Africa, which hampers investment inflow to the continent.
He said Africa’s current exports accounted only 27% to Asia compared to 14% in 2000.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español