African Forum For Dialogue “Industrialization and Inclusive Development in Africa”

Ambassador Ado Elhadji
Ambassador Ehouzou
Distinguished Ambassadors
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is my privilege to be with you to represent the Acting Director-General, Mr. Michael Møller, who very much regrets that he cannot be with you this morning. He has asked me to deliver a message to you in support of the African Forum For Dialogue:

“It is my pleasure to convey my sincere greetings to the African Forum for Dialogue. I commend the African Union and the African Group on this timely initiative, which strengthens an important focus in Geneva on sustainable development in Africa and shows the dynamism of the discussions here on African challenges.

The Forum follows last week’s African Union Summit hosted by Equatorial Guinea with development at the heart of the debates and I appreciate that we can bring the collective expertise of International Geneva to the table on this central challenge.

Over the past years, we have seen the economic potential of Africa translated into some of the highest growth rates in the world. Yet, too many people are not benefiting. There is a need to transform growth into employment opportunities, expansion in small and medium-sized businesses, increased production of value-added goods and greater intra-regional and global trade.

There is no doubt that industrialization plays an important role across these efforts. Industrialization is critical to diversification of economies and increased trade in goods and services. Experience shows clearly that countries that have achieved sustained economic growth and job creation have done so through industrialization.

The empowerment of women and youth needs to be fully integrated in the debate on industrialization. It is essential that our development models deliver gender equality and enable all to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of their societies while building skills and accumulating knowledge in the process.

Industrialization need not be at the expense of the environment or in contradiction to development of the agricultural potential of the continent. Enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting climate-smart industry through policy reform and technology must go hand-in-hand. What we need is climate-resilient, low-carbon development that delivers inclusive economic growth and progress for all segments of society. The African Union’s efforts to advance this agenda are particularly encouraging.

The Climate Summit, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General on 23 September, will be another key opportunity for the international community to discuss, at the highest levels, how to achieve these aims. It is a stepping stone in the twin processes towards an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, with a set of concise goals and targets along with a package of means of implementation package, and a binding climate agreement to protect our planet.

The knowledge and know-how of all the partners in International Geneva will be essential in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda and the climate agreement. You can rely on us to support, through practical assistance and capacity-building, the task of turning the goals and targets into tangible progress for people across the world.

We share a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Africa where all can realize their potential and shape their societies. And we want to work together to make that a reality.”

That was the end of the Acting Director-General’s message.

I join him in wishing you a very successful event.

Thank you very much.