THE
World Economic Forum on Africa got under way yesterday in Dar es
Salaam
with a dozen heads of State and government from across the
continent
participating.
This Forum, the
20th of its kind, will examine how leaders are tackling the
development challenges
facing Africa and explore ways of using the economic crisis as an
opportunity
to redesign a road map for the continent’s future in the global
economy.
The theme of the three-day Forum is “Rethinking Africa’s Growth
Strategy.”
More 1,000 participants
from 85 countries are attending the Forum, hosted by Tanzania’s
President
Jakaya Kikwete. “Africa is a continent full of potential. Africa has
been growing despite the economic instability that is facing the
world today.
We will have the opportunity to examine the strategy of Africa for
today
to ensure that there is a better tomorrow,” Mr. Kikwete said at the
opening session.
Anna Tibaijuka,
Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme
(UN-HABITAT) and
one of the Forum’s co-chairs, emphasized that urbanization was one
of the key challenges facing Africa. Africa is urbanizing faster that
any other
continent, so much so that by 2030, Africa will cease to be a rural
continent.
It is time that policymakers include plans for balanced territorial
urban development.
This is one of the keys to economic growth, especially as investment
in infrastructure
and housing in African cities provides a great opportunity for the
private
sector.
The World Economic Forum is an independent international
organization that
tries to bring about positive change in the world by engaging leaders
in partnerships
to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
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