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(LUSAKATIMES) KK urges African countries to diversify economies

KK urges African countries to diversify economies
Monday, July 20, 2009, 19:39

First Republican President, Kenneth Kaunda, says Africa should take advantage of its abundant natural resources in order to diversify its economies and attract more foreign direct investment.

Africa should have achieved a lot in the fight against poverty after so many years of independence.We cannot remain competitive in this world if we do not have an educated populace and a well trained manpower to run factories, mines, hospitals and schools. We can only compete by developing our human resource to provide necessary skills in order to enhance our productivity.

Dr. Kaunda said this in Johannesburg at the weekend when he received the lifetime achievement award from the African Heritage Society in recognition for his contribution to the liberation struggles in Southern Africa.

He told a 500 plus invited guests at the Sandton International Convention Centre that Africa should have achieved a lot in the fight against poverty after so many years of independence.

Dr. Kaunda said African countries have remained underdeveloped due to a number of factors some of which are due to the manner in which it is conducting its trade with the rest of the world.

He said Africa’s trade with other countries is lopsided as it is to a large extent only exporting raw materials.

Dr. Kaunda said Africa needs to develop its manufacturing sector to enable it attain sustainable comparative advantage and compete highly with the rest of the world.

He also cited agriculture as one of the neglected areas in Africa which could help in making many countries be self sufficient.

He said a well run agriculture sector could help establish many agricultural based industries and ensure food security for its people.

Dr. Kaunda, further, said the tourism sector was another sector which contributes enormously to the Gross Domestic Products, GDP, of many African countries.

He, however, said this sector has largely been neglected and the situation had been exacerbated by the current financial crisis which has affected international travelers.

Dr.Kaunda said the education and vocational training were critical to the continent’s development adding that the continent can only be competitive by having a qualified human resource.

“We cannot remain competitive in this world if we do not have an educated populace and a well trained manpower to run factories, mines, hospitals and schools. We can only compete by developing our human resource to provide necessary skills in order to enhance our productivity,” he said.

ZANIS

Labels: ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION, KENNETH KAUNDA

posted by MrK @ 9:09 PM