A statement by the bank’s Principal Communication
Officer, Olivia Obiang on Monday in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, said the three
languages were among the most widely spoken by more than 300 million Africans.
Officer, Olivia Obiang on Monday in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, said the three
languages were among the most widely spoken by more than 300 million Africans.
She said releasing the report in local languages
was aimed at increasing accessibility of the publication’s findings to a large
segment of Africans and promoting linguistic inclusiveness.
was aimed at increasing accessibility of the publication’s findings to a large
segment of Africans and promoting linguistic inclusiveness.
She added that the release was also the latest
innovation for increasing the relevance and timeliness of the AEO.
innovation for increasing the relevance and timeliness of the AEO.
Obiang said for the first time in the
publication’s history, the 2018 edition of the report was launched early on
Jan. 17 at the bank’s headquarters by the president of AfDB, Dr Akinwumi
Adesina.
publication’s history, the 2018 edition of the report was launched early on
Jan. 17 at the bank’s headquarters by the president of AfDB, Dr Akinwumi
Adesina.
The 2018 edition of the publication focuses on
infrastructure.
infrastructure.
The statement quoted Adesina as saying,
“Infrastructure projects are among the most profitable investments any society
can make.
“Infrastructure projects are among the most profitable investments any society
can make.
“When productive, they significantly contribute
to propel and sustain a country’s economic growth.”
to propel and sustain a country’s economic growth.”
Obiang also said based on preliminary results,
AfDB estimates that investment needs for infrastructure would be in the range
of 130-170 billion dollars a year, much higher than the commonly cited 93
billion dollars.
AfDB estimates that investment needs for infrastructure would be in the range
of 130-170 billion dollars a year, much higher than the commonly cited 93
billion dollars.
“Another milestone was the release of regional
Economic Outlooks for Africa’s five sub-regions at the Bank’s regional hubs on
March 12.
Economic Outlooks for Africa’s five sub-regions at the Bank’s regional hubs on
March 12.
“These self-contained reports focus on priority
areas of concern for each sub-region and provide analysis of the economic and
social landscape.
areas of concern for each sub-region and provide analysis of the economic and
social landscape.
“Specifically, the regional Economic Outlook focuses
on the importance of the Congo Basin forest for Central Africa, assesses the
manufacturing sector potential in Eastern Africa and discusses food security
and rural poverty in North Africa.
on the importance of the Congo Basin forest for Central Africa, assesses the
manufacturing sector potential in Eastern Africa and discusses food security
and rural poverty in North Africa.
“It also analyses competition in food value
chains in Southern Africa and addresses labour markets and job issues in West
Africa,’’ Obiang said.
chains in Southern Africa and addresses labour markets and job issues in West
Africa,’’ Obiang said.
She explained that with these new improvements,
the bank hoped to transform the AEO series (main and regional editions) into a
flagship that would provide comprehensive analysis and reliable up-to-date
data.
the bank hoped to transform the AEO series (main and regional editions) into a
flagship that would provide comprehensive analysis and reliable up-to-date
data.
It would also provide reference materials on
Africa’s development challenges for researchers, investors, civil society
organisations, development partners and the media.
Africa’s development challenges for researchers, investors, civil society
organisations, development partners and the media.
“In the coming years, a particular emphasis will be
placed on promoting linguistic inclusiveness by expanding the number of local
languages in which the AEO is released.
placed on promoting linguistic inclusiveness by expanding the number of local
languages in which the AEO is released.
“The bank will also take its knowledge products
to influential development stakeholders such as local government officials or
local NGOs, especially in rural areas, which are often not fully engaged in
critical development discussions,’’ he said.
to influential development stakeholders such as local government officials or
local NGOs, especially in rural areas, which are often not fully engaged in
critical development discussions,’’ he said.
According to her, through such efforts, AfDB will
further celebrate Africa’s linguistic diversity and multilingualism, while
fostering home-grown solutions to Africa’s challenges.
further celebrate Africa’s linguistic diversity and multilingualism, while
fostering home-grown solutions to Africa’s challenges.
