Experts confident that Africa can claim the 21st Century

Abstract

African Economic Policy experts opened their annual meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today with the firm belief that the continent can become a pole for global growth and thereby claim the 21st century. United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, said Africa had maintained a healthy economic growth rate despite slow global growth and political upheaval in North Africa. He outlined three critical issues for structural transformation of Africa as having a clear vision of its development needs, articulating a strong post-2015 development agenda, and generating gainful employment, particularly for the youth who form the bulk of Africa’s population. He said a key catalyst for progress would be regional integration and infrastructure development.