Statement by Antonio Pedro Acting Executive Secretary United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

Abstract

The document is a statement by Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), delivered at the 43rd Executive Council meeting of the African Union on July 13, 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya. It emphasizes the importance of leveraging Africa's resources to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, highlighting key opportunities such as harnessing the Congo River's hydroelectric potential, developing battery and electric vehicle value chains, and expanding the renewable energy market. The statement calls for solidarity, urgency, and resilience to drive Africa's industrialization, economic diversification, and sustainable development, with the AfCFTA serving as a catalyst for these transformations.