Infrastructure, skills dev’t key to Africa’s growth

The seventh edition of the Africa Economic Conference concluded in Kigali yesterday with a general consensus that the continent should invest in skills development and infrastructure to sustain its growth.The four-day meeting drew hundreds of high-level delegates from Africa and beyond, including eminent academics, political leaders, representatives of international organisations, chief executive officers, civil society organisations and the media.The high-level continental event was organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).“There is need to invest heavily in skills development like vocational training, and infrastructure development in the areas of energy, roads, railways, housing among others to promote inclusive and sustainable growth in the continent, “said Prof Mthuli Ncube, the Chief Economist and Vice President of AfDB.He added that social protection, good governance and regional integration are also key to the continent’s sustained development.The forum was held under the theme; “Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Age of Global Uncertainty”.“Supporting SMEs, labour mobility, one stop border posts connecting African countries to allow free movement of goods and services will bring about sustainable African development as well,” Ncube emphasised.The AfDB Chief Economist gave an example of Rwanda’s One Cow per Poor Family programme as a social protection pillar that has helped lift population out of the poverty trap.“We should think how to replicate such programmes in other African countries using other assets whether goats or sheep and others,” he pointed out. The ‘One Cow per Poor Family project’ commonly known as “Girinka” that started a couple of years back has seen millions of Rwandans being lifted out of poverty.The meeting explored Africa’s prospects for sustainable and inclusive growth in the wake of the global economic crisis.“Trade and investment-whether domestic or foreign investments--are major issues to look into in order to foster inclusiveness and sustainable growth in Africa,” said Amb Claver Gatete, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda.“We should ensure that growth benefits majority of the population. To achieve growth, many things have to be done like the inclusiveness of the role of researchers, financial institutions, macroeconomic stability maintenance and the creation of conducive business environment.”Gatate stated that the uncertainty of global economic crisis is going to remain a permanent situation, African nations need to share ideas on how handle the external economic shocks.According to Pedro Conceicao, Chief Economist at the UNDP, investing in infrastructure especially feeder roads, energy and clean water will play a key role in sustaining Africa’s development.“We have been discussing several issues regarding inclusiveness and sustainable development in Africa, but the question is, are we are going to implement what we agreed on? We should put what we said into actions,” he said.Conceicao called upon African countries to improve human development, like advancing health, quality education especially vocational training and poverty eradication, and job creation among others.Africa has grown strongly over the last decade. Having weathered the economic crisis, the continent’s average growth is expected to rebound to 4.8 per cent in 2013.Among other notable dignitaries who attended the conference are Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, Joaquim Rafael Branco, former Prime Minister of Sao Tomé and Príncipe, UNDP Administrator, Helen Clark and President of the AfDB, Dr Donald Kaberuka among others.