Speech by the RT Hon Tony Blair MP at Africa Hall

Abstract

Mr. Blair, on his remarks highlighted that, Millions of people in Africa suffering from persecution, conflict, extreme poverty and even starvation, have had to leave their homes behind. Most of these people do not have the resources or the ability to get very far and will probably become refugees in another poor country in Africa that cannot afford to protect them. The African Union’s new plan for Africa’s development and its African peer review mechanism is an African led initiative to get African countries to encourage each other to improve governance shows is vital to real progress. The UK has proposed a new International Financing Facility to front load these resources, so that they can be invested in Africa's future now. We need action to open up opportunities for business in Africa to grow faster by trading with the rest of the world. There could be no clearer example that what is good for Africa is good for the rest of the world too. We will all benefit from fairer trade.