Africa-Ireland Economic Forum 2011
Africa Ireland Economic Forum 13 September 2011
An Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
with H.E. Ms Catherine Muigai Mwangi, Ambassador of
Kenya
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D., launched the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s new Africa Strategy at the first ever Africa-Ireland Economic Forum at the Smurfit School of Business in Dublin on the 13th September 2011.
The Africa Strategy sets out a comprehensive framework for Ireland’s business, political and development relations with Africa over the coming years.
The Africa-Ireland Economic Forum provided an opportunity for representatives of African Governments and Irish business leaders to discuss trade and investment issues. More than 140 of Ireland’s leading companies and diplomatic representatives from 20 different African countries participated in the forum. The Tánaiste said:
“Africa is among the world’s most rapidly-growing economic regions, with a collective GDP to rival Brazil’s or Russia’s. Many African countries have a growing middle class and there is real progress in building health and education systems. Africans are building trade with each other and with the world, and business opportunities are opening up.”
“Our Africa Strategy recognises that many African countries are mobilising domestic resources to drive their own development. However, it also acknowledges the substantial challenges that remain: that high growth rates do not automatically end poverty and that drought, population growth and conflict can set back progress.”
“We will continue to provide development aid to Africa to fight poverty and hunger and promote inclusive economic growth. Our long term aim is to end dependency on aid and to build a new relationship with Africa based on politics, democracy and trade. It is not only right that we do so, it is in our interests as a country which needs to participate actively in the global economy.”
“Irish companies are well-placed to play a greater role in meeting Africa’s increasing needs. To this end, my Department and our embassies across Africa - in close cooperation with our State agencies – are committed to helping with the research, networking and the groundwork that can identify and facilitate two-way trade and investment. This forum is an early and concrete manifestation of that commitment.”
At the launch, McKinsey Global presented their comprehensive report, “Lions on the Move: The Progress and Potential of African Economies” which shows that by 2020 Africa’s collective GDP will reach $2.6 trillion, while the continent’s consumers will spend $1.4 trillion on goods and services.
From left Mr Tunde Olanrewaju McKinsey Global, H.E. Ms
Catherine Muigai Mwangi, Ambassador of Kenya, Professor Damien
McLaughlin, Minister of State for Trade and Development, Ms Jan
O’Sullivan T.D., Professor Ciarán ÓhÓgartaigh, Dean of UCD Smurfit
Graduate Business School
Minister of State for Trade and Development, Jan O’Sullivan, who opened the forum, said:
“African countries have identified job creation, foreign direct
investment, trade and private sector development as drivers of
growth and development. For Ireland, this represents an
unrivalled opportunity to build on 40 years of development
cooperation work and move towards a relationship with African
countries which incorporates sustainable two-way trade and
investment flows.”
“We are committed to doing this in a way that will benefit Irish
and African businesses and complement the objectives of our aid
programme. This means supporting African countries’ independent
development while making growth as inclusive as possible to ensure
that it benefits all sectors of the community.”
HE Ms. Catherine Muigai Mwangi, Ambassador of Kenya and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corp delivered an address on opportunities for the Irish business sector in Africa. A copy of her address can be viewed here.
There were three afternoon sessions focusing on infrastructure, services and ICT. Copies of presentations are available on the Private Infrastructure Development Group the Investment Climate Facility on services and ICT
Paticipants from Rwanda at the forum.
