The work of several seminars and thematic workshops opened simultaneously Monday, May 27th, 2013 before the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (ADB), which officially will start Thursday in the Red city.
During this event, participants will discuss several issues related to "the policy for structural change in Africa: what role for think tanks", "dissemination and access to information policy", "stimulate the African private sector in financing and business opportunities", as well as "the need of the energy sector in Africa: building capacity in the energy sector".
The seminars and workshops of the first day will also focus on "the index of inclusive growth in Africa", "dialogue on governance: putting accountability at the heart of service delivery", "stability to growth, strategic indicator of investment and maintaining growth momentum" and "transparency, accountability and citizen participation".
During these meetings, participants will also be acquainted with the major axes of a report on competitiveness in Africa (RCA) in 2013, entitled "connecting Africa`s Markets in a sustainable way" as well as the outline of a report on the Development of Africa in 2012.
The annual meetings of the (ADB), that runs until May 31st current in Marrakech under the theme "structural changes of Africa", was attended by over 2,500 delegates from over 70 countries.
The hosts believe that the economic mutations of the African continent are the cornerstone of the new ten-year strategy (2013-2022) of the African Development Bank Group (ADB). This strategy, which was approved by the Bank?s Board of Directors after a deep and wide consultation process, both within and outside the Bank, focuses on the quality and sustainability of growth.
Mr. Donald Kaberuka, the President of the(ADB),stated in a document issued by the institution, that this strategy reaffirms the Bank?s key programs which are infrastructure, economic integration and the private sector. It plans to achieve inclusive growth, shared by all citizens, of all ages, sexes and regions that take particular account of Africa?s fragile states, where 200 million people live.
The strategy also focuses on building resilience to climate change and sustainable management of natural resources, noting that this roadmap identifies the five main fields on which the Bank will focus its activities to improve the quality of growth in Africa. These include the development of infrastructure, regional economic integration, private sector development, governance and accountability, the development of skills and technology.
The new strategy also proposes to look for new and innovative ways of mobilizing resources to support changes in Africa, including the effective use of its own resources. The increased use of public-private partnerships, the co-financing arrangements and risk mitigation instruments will attract new investors.
Mr. Kaberuka added that "in a decade marked by profound changes in the world economy, Africa defeated some of the more pessimistic forecasts and recorded a remarkable growth. This growth must be translated into real economic mutations that will generate jobs and provide opportunities for people".
"For this reason, the next decade will be so critical, and that the (ADB) strategy for the period 2013-2022 is of a so great importance", he concluded.