President Paul Kagame has said that African countries have a chance to become among top competitive nations if they focus and work hard.Kagame made the remarks yesterday at the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s sixth Annual Meeting of the New Champions — also known as the Summer Davos — taking place in north China’s port city of Tianjin.Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, after addressing the Summer Davos for five consecutive years.“If you look at the recent global competitiveness index report by the World Economic Forum, Rwanda which was at ranked at 70th position last year, has now moved forward seven places to 63rd position now globally, out of 140 countries that were surveyed by WEF,” Kagame said.The WEF in its global competitiveness index, this year ranked Rwanda the most competitive country in East Africa and third in Sub-Saharan Africa.“If Rwanda can do it, I am sure many countries can do it even better if they focus and work hard, and I think it’s not an exaggeration that some of the African countries can make a breakthrough among top ten countries in the world.”Kagame noted that competitiveness is built for the purpose of having an impact on people’s lives.“Improved infrastructure has served the region well and we also work on competitiveness of each nation of large area. We have learned to overcome challenges as a region than each solving with their own problems separately.”Kagame noted that business regulations shouldn’t mean hindrance or an impediment to freedom of business operators.“Business regulations should mean enhancing high standards and quality and also setting the ground to the point that when people come to do business in the first place, they know where to start from,” he stated.“Regulations should promote innovation, entrepreneurship and doing business, not a hindrance or an obstacle to freedom of business operation.”The three-day forum, under the theme “Creating the Future Economy”, has attracted some 2,000 participants from 86 countries and regions.Opening the meeting Chinese Premier Wen said that the Summer Davos Forum has provided a place for the international community to strengthen cooperation amid gloomy world economic situation.“It is true that the Chinese economy is under notable downward pressure, but with our efforts to shift our economic model, better allocate resources and implement more reform and opening up, we have the ability to keep the economy in good shape,” he stated.During the session, Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, hailed the “responsible and responsive role” that China has played in stabilising the global economy and contributing to global growth in response to the severe financial crisis.“It is only global cooperation and solidarity which will allow us to return to a path of harmonious growth,” Schwab said. “Today, the most competitive countries are those that combine strong entrepreneurial force with vision and statesmanship.”The Annual Meeting of the New Champions is the foremost global business gathering in Asia. After five years, reflects the “spirit of Davos” that for more than four decades has meant openness, collegiality and frank, yet friendly.The forum provides a platform for the rising generation of global leaders from business and society to contribute to broader policy discussions and engage with the world’s top business executives.The New Champions are led by the Forum’s growing Global Growth Companies Community as well as the communities of technology pioneers, young global leaders, shapers and scientists.According to organizers, the meeting will highlight the role that new and fast-emerging multinational companies play in enabling and driving sustainability in a global business landscape that has been fundamentally changed by the economic crisis.
