Abuja, 26 March 2014 (ECA)- On the margin of the EU-Africa Summit in Brussels, the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), will host an informal African-Nordic Ministerial meeting on April 1, 2014 on the theme: Opportunity Africa: Partnerships for Green and Inclusive Growth in Africa.
Discussions will focus on how African and Nordic partners can collaborate around areas of mutual interest.
The meeting comes in the wake of new growth opportunities after decades dominated by challenges related to extreme poverty, conflicts and fragility in Africa. This emerging terrain is witnessing a growing middle class, fast emergent economies, and a real chance to eliminate extreme poverty within the time span of a generation.
Furthermore, the AU has declared 2014 to be the year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa. At the AU Summit in January in Addis Ababa, it was recognized that enhanced agricultural performance is a key to inclusive, green growth, and poverty reduction through its direct impact on job creation (especially for women and youth), food security, and resilience.
The AU Summit recognized that the path to achieve inclusive and green growth in Africa goes via strengthened value chains, improved natural resources management, and appropriate infrastructure.
According to the ECA, private companies and investors in the Nordic countries possess know-how and financing for investments in areas at the core of demands in many African countries, not least when it comes to green solutions to conventional energy supply, degrading natural environments, pollution, the threats posed by climate change, etc. These are opportunities that can be turned into a win-win platform for a continued, strong African-Nordic partnership.
Note to Editors:
In October 2013, the Danish government launched the "Opportunity Africa" initiative, with two objectives:
• To intensify economic diplomacy with African partners, to promote inclusive and green growth; and,
• To create a new Nordic-African Alliance for regional economic integration, inclusive and green growth
Based on the discussions, a draft “Opportunity Africa Compact” will be drawn, outlining specific proposals for action, to be discussed at a Nordic-African High Level Ministerial Partnership meeting in Copenhagen, in October 2014, on the occasion of the Green Growth Forum. The expected outcome is a Nordic-African Ministerial policy statement articulating the policy options and actions required at the regional and sub-regional levels to achieve inclusive and green growth and enhanced private sector engagement in Africa.
Subject to these deliberations, a formal launch of an African-Nordic Opportunity Africa Initiative is expected to take place in January 2015 in Addis Ababa, on the occasion of the AU summit.
Issued by:
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