Maravi

Scale up aid to Africa, Levy urges G8 countries

Scale up aid to Africa, Levy urges G8 countries
By Grace Kasungami in Yokohama, Japan
Thursday May 29, 2008 [04:01]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has called on G8 countries to live up to their promises and scale up aid to Africa. During a plenary presentation at the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), President Mwanawasa said the forthcoming G8 summit in Japan should consider the promises made to scale up aid to Africa. President Mwanawasa also emphasised on the need for infrastructure development in Africa.

He said although there was a lot of trade potential in Africa, there was no functioning communication link between nations.

"There is a lot of trade potential between Zambia and her neighbour, Angola, but there is no functioning communication link between the two countries, hence the need for this development," he said.

President Mwanawasa further called on the private sector from the rich world to change their perceptions about the business risks in Africa.

He said the G8 countries should not see investments into Africa as a threat to them saying such investment would enhance Africa's buying power and thereby increase the global market opportunities.

President Mwanawasa also called for the promotion of South to South cooperation.
He urged Africans to take advantage of TICAD to encourage investors from Asia and other continents to invest in Africa.

President Mwanawasa said since the last TICAD in 2003, Zambia had taken practical steps to encourage South to South cooperation and faster economic growth.

He explained that through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Zambia had hired an experienced retired official from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority to help with specific measures to create a conducive regulatory environment for investment.

He said the country had earmarked selected parts for special economic areas called Multi Facility Economic Zones (MFEZ).

President Mwanawasa further explained that design work for a 2,000 hectare-MFEZ was underway in Zambia's capital, Lusaka.

President Mwanawasa said the project, whose construction will start in 2009, was being implemented jointly by the Japanese firm and a Malaysian firm.

Among the 52 African leaders at the conference are South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete, Malawi's Bingu wa Mutharika, Namibia's Hifikepunye Pohamba and Armando Guebuza of Mozambique.

Others are Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, King Mswati of Swaziland and Prime minister of Lesotho, Pakalitha Mosisili.

Apart from the 52 heads of state, the conference has also attracted 3,000 delegates, which include 16 African regional organisations, 22 donor countries and 55 international organizations.

The conference is being held under the theme "Towards a Vibrant Africa: Continent of Hope and Opportunity".

Labels: DONORS, MFEZ, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 4:51 AM