The 5th Africa Business Forum, one of the @ECA_OFFICIAL's flagship initiatives, is underway in Addis. Its theme: “Investing in multimodal transport infrastructure to optimize the benefits of the #AfCFTA: a focus on air transport and tourism.”
A thread from us at @habarinetwork:
A thread from us at @habarinetwork:
The @ECA_OFFICIAL is set to release a major analysis of scenarios, by 2030, of @AfCFTA implementation on the demand for various modes of transport infrastructure and services, and the implications for investment in infrastructure.
Botswana's President @OfficialMasisi, a keynote speaker, says Botswana aspires to becomes a regional tourism and logistics hub and has undertaken various transport infrastructure upgrades in anticipation of the implementation of the AfCFTA.
Sierra Leone's President, H.E. Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) points to a "missing centre piece": namely investment in transport infrastructure, important for expanding economic productivity and participation in intra-African and global trade.
.@PresidentBio says private capital must be enabled to support the provision of transport infrastructure. Sierra Leone's policy planning emphasised the full implementation of the AfCFTA and the SAATM. Sierra Leone was constructing a modern airport to expand trade and tourism.
The first panelist, the AUC's Deputy Chairperson @mnsanzabaganwa, points to the challenge of achieving free movement of people on the African continent, noting the hard and soft infrastructure it requires.
.@afreximbank President, Dr Benedict Oramah, urges the adoption of a short-, medium- and long-term approach to developing aviation infrastructure. An estimated $160bn is needed in the next 20 years: @afreximbank was finding ways to make this aviation investment happen.
The ABF's facilitator, @mbele_lnb, brings Sierra Leone's President, H.E. Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) back into the panel discussion: "We need to think out of the box and not in silos. At a Heads of State level we need to get our heads around the transport issue...
"...It is good to accede to these agreements, but is another to see they are implemented. The @AfCFTA must be brought into operation quickly."
Important final thoughts from @mnsanzabaganwa:
➡️Involve the private sector at a continental, regional and country level in transport infrastructure
➡️De-risk investments, tap into pension funds, the ratings issue, and the need for a pan-African structure to back investments
➡️Involve the private sector at a continental, regional and country level in transport infrastructure
➡️De-risk investments, tap into pension funds, the ratings issue, and the need for a pan-African structure to back investments
And, as a final point, @mnsanzabaganwa said the weekend AU summit had discussed the need for a strategic repositioning of it and other agencies. The UNECA, as ABF host, was a " strategic broker of policies and an implementer on the ground".
.@AmbMuchanga leads discussion on the next ABF panel. He announces the new name for his Department, approved at the weekend's AU Summit, with the addition of tourism into its scope: ➡️The Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, Trade and Minerals Department.
Ms. Beatrice Chaytor, an @AfCFTA official, said the AfCFTA sits as a "central plank" to today's ABF discussion noting also that transport/aviation infrastructure is an important catalyst for growth and for promoting certainty, predictability and transparency in trade processes.
On policy directions and the way forward: @snkaringi (Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, @ECA_OFFICIAL) introduces the ECA's transport infrastructure study and its importance in stimulating the African tourism and services sector, and in creating jobs.
Robert Lisinge (attached to the ECA's Energy, Infrastructure and Services Section, Private Sector Development and Finance Division) takes ABF participants through the study's main findings, policy recommendations. Download: bit.ly/3J6HIHl
The fundamental question says @waltermzembi (World Tourism Network Africa): Why are we, as Africa, still participating in this huge global tourism market at only a 5% share? He urges a Brand Africa tourism organisation, the opening up Africa, route-sharing, digital connectivity.
That brings the presentations from the African Business Forum 2022 (#ABF2022) to a close. We trust you've enjoyed this thread by us at @habarinetwork. Until our next thread, keep safe - and, kwa heri!
@threadreaderapp Unroll
Highlighting @sundarpichai's #ABF speech:
https://twitter.com/sundarpichai/status/1490605806332436480?t=pfmGtoTXCoMIViOUojq6CQ&s=19
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
