Date: 25/09/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Breakfast meeting hosted by Real Elcano Institute in Spain
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT BREAKFAST MEETING HOSTED BY REAL ELCANO INSTITUTE, Madrid, Spain, 25 September 2003
Honourable Chairperson,
Esteemed guests,
Firstly I would like to thank the Real Elcano Institute for organising this event and requesting us to share our thoughts on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) with this important gathering of business and civil society leaders. Your interest in the development within the African continent is encouraging indeed.
Ladies and gentlemen, as African leaders we decided that the vision of a prosperous Africa could no longer be an issue just for research and discussion, but needed action to make it a reality. Africa had to reclaim the heritage of the people of the African Continent and renew their socio-economic and political circumstances.
We then resolved that a plan had to be developed to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment. This plan would have to put Africa firmly on the path of irreversible and sustainable growth in our globalised world.
This plan, through a rigorous process of discussion, initially became known as the Millennium Africa Recovery Programme, later it became the New African Initiative, but finally we settled on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, or NEPAD.
This name was chosen because whilst this is an African-initiated and African-run programme, we said we would like to partner with the rest of the world and that this partnership should be, based on mutual respect, responsibility and accountability.
NEPAD in the main serves to unite the African continent as an economic and trading block that works together toward common goals and objectives. I must emphasise that NEPAD is not a dream that is unrealistic or far-fetched. On the contrary, it is a scientifically researched programme that has concrete plans of action to realise its goals.
At the launch of the African Union (AU) in July last year, Heads of State and Government representing the peoples of Africa agreed to work together, in policy and action, in pursuit of the following objectives, among others:
* Establishment of an African Peer Review Mechanism
* Economic and Corporate Governance
* Socio-Economic Development
* Democracy and Good Political Governance.
I will talk on each of these areas very briefly.
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM
The African Peer Review mechanism is an instrument to which Member States of the AU can voluntarily accede.
Its purpose is to ensure that policies and practices of participating African States conform to the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards confirmed in the AU's Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.
Sixteen African countries have thus far voluntarily indicated that they would participate in a peer review.
We also resolved that we would always use international best practice as the benchmark for our programmes. We therefore modelled the African Peer Review Mechanism on the Peer Review Mechanism of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Socio-economic development
We are convinced that poverty can only be effectively eradicated amongst other things through the promotion of democracy, good governance, peace and security; the development of human and physical resources; gender equality; openness to international trade and investment and new partnerships between governments and the private sector and civil society.
As Africa is ultimately responsible for its own people, our development begins with the quality of human resources through the provision of more and better education and training, better health care and the effective integration of women in political and socio-economic development.
Economic and corporate governance
Good economic and corporate governance, including transparency in financial management, are essential prerequisites for promoting economic growth and reducing poverty. Mindful of this, African leaders have approved a number of prioritised codes and standards for achieving good economic and corporate governance.
African countries have undertaken to comply with the minimum requirements of these codes and standards according to their capacity. These codes and standards include, the Code of Good Practices on Transparency in Monetary and Financial Policies, as well as on Fiscal Transparency, Guidelines for Public Debt Management and International Accounting Standards.
DEMOCRACY AND GOOD POLITICAL GOVERNANCE
We are committed to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and freedoms, equality and transparent and accountable governments, which will combat and eradicate corruption.
We are also determined to restore stability, peace and security on the Continent, as these are essential elements for sustainable development. Our efforts are therefore directed at seeking speedy and peaceful solutions to current conflicts and at building Africa's capacity to prevent, manage and resolve all conflicts on the Continent. South Africa in particular is involved in a number of peace initiatives including Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
We must also applaud the involvement of Spain in some of the African peace initiatives, for example in the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as the DRC and Sierra Leone.
Chairperson, we are working hard to develop a coordinated African approach to issues such as market access and other developmental areas critical to Africa's development.
We appreciate arrangements, which are already contributing towards making a difference on our Continent. However, to be truly effective, these must be complemented by increased investment, development assistance, debt relief and the removal of subsidies and other measures that do not help African economies.
As said earlier, NEPAD offers many practical opportunities for potential investors and has gone beyond the research stage. These include possibilities for investment in oil extraction, mining, infrastructure development, agriculture, tourism and many more.
Infrastructure development projects have been identified in the following areas: Energy, road and air transport, Information Communications Technology and water.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, of which we are a part, has prioritised 26 projects in these focus areas. There are various projects in other regions as well.
The developing world has made this point at various international forums, including the recent WTO Ministerial meeting at Cancun.
Chairperson, it is true that NEPAD is an ambitious programme that is long-term in nature, but we believe that Africa needs a common vision to mobilise all her people and resources against the common enemies of poverty, disease and underdevelopment, as we mobilised in the past in a common battle against national oppression, colonialism and racism.
We do not underestimate the challenges involved in achieving NEPAD's objectives, but we share a common resolution to restore Africa to a place of dignity in the world.
What is mainly offered by Africa, however, is considerable growth potential - and that is something no longer so obviously possible in developed economies.
I therefore, on behalf of the leaders and peoples of Africa, extend an invitation to you to join Africa in a partnership for the revival and development of our Continent. This is not a philanthropic request, but one that holds out the promise of mutual benefits.
Ladies and Gentlemen, my fondest wish is that, in view of the merits of NEPAD, we will be working together to create a better world for all the peoples of Africa and the world as a whole.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
25 September 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Breakfast meeting hosted by Real Elcano Institute in Spain
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT BREAKFAST MEETING HOSTED BY REAL ELCANO INSTITUTE, Madrid, Spain, 25 September 2003
Honourable Chairperson,
Esteemed guests,
Firstly I would like to thank the Real Elcano Institute for organising this event and requesting us to share our thoughts on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) with this important gathering of business and civil society leaders. Your interest in the development within the African continent is encouraging indeed.
Ladies and gentlemen, as African leaders we decided that the vision of a prosperous Africa could no longer be an issue just for research and discussion, but needed action to make it a reality. Africa had to reclaim the heritage of the people of the African Continent and renew their socio-economic and political circumstances.
We then resolved that a plan had to be developed to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment. This plan would have to put Africa firmly on the path of irreversible and sustainable growth in our globalised world.
This plan, through a rigorous process of discussion, initially became known as the Millennium Africa Recovery Programme, later it became the New African Initiative, but finally we settled on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, or NEPAD.
This name was chosen because whilst this is an African-initiated and African-run programme, we said we would like to partner with the rest of the world and that this partnership should be, based on mutual respect, responsibility and accountability.
NEPAD in the main serves to unite the African continent as an economic and trading block that works together toward common goals and objectives. I must emphasise that NEPAD is not a dream that is unrealistic or far-fetched. On the contrary, it is a scientifically researched programme that has concrete plans of action to realise its goals.
At the launch of the African Union (AU) in July last year, Heads of State and Government representing the peoples of Africa agreed to work together, in policy and action, in pursuit of the following objectives, among others:
* Establishment of an African Peer Review Mechanism
* Economic and Corporate Governance
* Socio-Economic Development
* Democracy and Good Political Governance.
I will talk on each of these areas very briefly.
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM
The African Peer Review mechanism is an instrument to which Member States of the AU can voluntarily accede.
Its purpose is to ensure that policies and practices of participating African States conform to the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards confirmed in the AU's Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.
Sixteen African countries have thus far voluntarily indicated that they would participate in a peer review.
We also resolved that we would always use international best practice as the benchmark for our programmes. We therefore modelled the African Peer Review Mechanism on the Peer Review Mechanism of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Socio-economic development
We are convinced that poverty can only be effectively eradicated amongst other things through the promotion of democracy, good governance, peace and security; the development of human and physical resources; gender equality; openness to international trade and investment and new partnerships between governments and the private sector and civil society.
As Africa is ultimately responsible for its own people, our development begins with the quality of human resources through the provision of more and better education and training, better health care and the effective integration of women in political and socio-economic development.
Economic and corporate governance
Good economic and corporate governance, including transparency in financial management, are essential prerequisites for promoting economic growth and reducing poverty. Mindful of this, African leaders have approved a number of prioritised codes and standards for achieving good economic and corporate governance.
African countries have undertaken to comply with the minimum requirements of these codes and standards according to their capacity. These codes and standards include, the Code of Good Practices on Transparency in Monetary and Financial Policies, as well as on Fiscal Transparency, Guidelines for Public Debt Management and International Accounting Standards.
DEMOCRACY AND GOOD POLITICAL GOVERNANCE
We are committed to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and freedoms, equality and transparent and accountable governments, which will combat and eradicate corruption.
We are also determined to restore stability, peace and security on the Continent, as these are essential elements for sustainable development. Our efforts are therefore directed at seeking speedy and peaceful solutions to current conflicts and at building Africa's capacity to prevent, manage and resolve all conflicts on the Continent. South Africa in particular is involved in a number of peace initiatives including Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
We must also applaud the involvement of Spain in some of the African peace initiatives, for example in the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as the DRC and Sierra Leone.
Chairperson, we are working hard to develop a coordinated African approach to issues such as market access and other developmental areas critical to Africa's development.
We appreciate arrangements, which are already contributing towards making a difference on our Continent. However, to be truly effective, these must be complemented by increased investment, development assistance, debt relief and the removal of subsidies and other measures that do not help African economies.
As said earlier, NEPAD offers many practical opportunities for potential investors and has gone beyond the research stage. These include possibilities for investment in oil extraction, mining, infrastructure development, agriculture, tourism and many more.
Infrastructure development projects have been identified in the following areas: Energy, road and air transport, Information Communications Technology and water.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, of which we are a part, has prioritised 26 projects in these focus areas. There are various projects in other regions as well.
The developing world has made this point at various international forums, including the recent WTO Ministerial meeting at Cancun.
Chairperson, it is true that NEPAD is an ambitious programme that is long-term in nature, but we believe that Africa needs a common vision to mobilise all her people and resources against the common enemies of poverty, disease and underdevelopment, as we mobilised in the past in a common battle against national oppression, colonialism and racism.
We do not underestimate the challenges involved in achieving NEPAD's objectives, but we share a common resolution to restore Africa to a place of dignity in the world.
What is mainly offered by Africa, however, is considerable growth potential - and that is something no longer so obviously possible in developed economies.
I therefore, on behalf of the leaders and peoples of Africa, extend an invitation to you to join Africa in a partnership for the revival and development of our Continent. This is not a philanthropic request, but one that holds out the promise of mutual benefits.
Ladies and Gentlemen, my fondest wish is that, in view of the merits of NEPAD, we will be working together to create a better world for all the peoples of Africa and the world as a whole.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
25 September 2003
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