Address by
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of
the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Abuja, Nigeria
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of
the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Abuja, Nigeria
Programme Director,
The President of Afreximbank, Dr Benedict Oramah,
HE Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr Moussa Faki,
HE President of the Republic of Niger, President Mahamadou Issoufou,
Honourable Ministers,
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It
is a great honour and privilege for me to be part of this occasion,
which marks a remarkable milestone in the history of Afreximbank.
is a great honour and privilege for me to be part of this occasion,
which marks a remarkable milestone in the history of Afreximbank.
Allow me to congratulate you on this great achievement and for the important work the bank has done over the past 25 years.
I am very pleased
to be sharing a platform with President Mahamadou Issoufou, who has been
leading the African Continental Free Trade Area process.
to be sharing a platform with President Mahamadou Issoufou, who has been
leading the African Continental Free Trade Area process.
Under his leadership, we have made significant progress towards making the AfCFTA a reality.
The 25th
anniversary of Afreximbank coincides with two historic occasions in
South Africa – the centenary of the birth of former President Nelson
Mandela exactly a week from today and the centenary of the birth of Mama
Albertina Sisulu in October.
anniversary of Afreximbank coincides with two historic occasions in
South Africa – the centenary of the birth of former President Nelson
Mandela exactly a week from today and the centenary of the birth of Mama
Albertina Sisulu in October.
These two great Africans are synonymous with South Africa’s struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
The outstanding role they played in our journey to democracy will forever be etched in the annals of history.
As a country, we
are today able to participate in such events as the 25th anniversary of
Afreximbank thanks to their contribution not only to free South Africa,
but also to ensure that it ties its future to the future of the African
continent.
are today able to participate in such events as the 25th anniversary of
Afreximbank thanks to their contribution not only to free South Africa,
but also to ensure that it ties its future to the future of the African
continent.
We continue to be inspired by these two icons in the work we do every day to create a better Africa and a better world.
We are guided by the words of President Mandela, when he said:
“I am fundamentally
an optimist… Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed
toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments
when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could
not give myself to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”
an optimist… Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed
toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments
when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could
not give myself to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”
We gather here in Abuja as optimists, our heads pointed towards the sun, our feet moving forward.
We are not daunted by the obstacles we face, nor discouraged by the setbacks we experience.
We are determined
to build an Africa that is prosperous, that is at peace, that is
inclusive and where all its people enjoy an improving quality of life.
to build an Africa that is prosperous, that is at peace, that is
inclusive and where all its people enjoy an improving quality of life.
We are encouraged
by the progress that has been made in many areas of endeavour, from
governance to trade, from education to technology.
by the progress that has been made in many areas of endeavour, from
governance to trade, from education to technology.
We are encouraged by the ongoing work of the African Union and its organs.
We have seen significant growth and development in economies across the continent.
We have many
success stories of companies and organisations that are making a great
difference in the lives of the people of Africa.
success stories of companies and organisations that are making a great
difference in the lives of the people of Africa.
Afreximbank is one such story, which serves as an example and an inspiration to many others.
We are optimistic
about Africa’s future because of the momentous developments over the
last few months in forging a free trade area across the continent.
about Africa’s future because of the momentous developments over the
last few months in forging a free trade area across the continent.
The Extraordinary
African Union Summit in Kigali in March was a watershed, with most of
the countries on the continent signing up to the agreement on the
African CFTA.
African Union Summit in Kigali in March was a watershed, with most of
the countries on the continent signing up to the agreement on the
African CFTA.
At the 31st Session
of the AU Assembly in Mauritania just over a week ago, South Africa
joined its counterparts in signing the agreement.
of the AU Assembly in Mauritania just over a week ago, South Africa
joined its counterparts in signing the agreement.
Agreement on the Continental Free Trade Agreement represents a new dawn for Africa.
This new dawn
signals the unity of purpose among Africans and a quest to work together
to achieve a common goal of a prosperous and independent continent.
signals the unity of purpose among Africans and a quest to work together
to achieve a common goal of a prosperous and independent continent.
The AfCFTA makes us a winning continent because it carries a vision that represents the aspirations of our forebears.
It encourages unity among us rather than division.
It gives practical
expression to our long-held belief that the interests of any nation in
our continent become meaningless if they are not pursued within the
context of shared prosperity among African people as a whole.
expression to our long-held belief that the interests of any nation in
our continent become meaningless if they are not pursued within the
context of shared prosperity among African people as a whole.
It is a significant
step towards the creation of an integrated and diversified market of
approximately $3.3 trillion with a population of over 1 billion people.
step towards the creation of an integrated and diversified market of
approximately $3.3 trillion with a population of over 1 billion people.
In pursuing the
CFTA, we seek to combine market integration with industrial and
infrastructure development to ensure that we enhance Africa’s productive
capacity, address supply-side constraints and alleviate the
infrastructure deficit.
CFTA, we seek to combine market integration with industrial and
infrastructure development to ensure that we enhance Africa’s productive
capacity, address supply-side constraints and alleviate the
infrastructure deficit.
We have to have the
means to produce the goods that will be freely traded across the
continent and we need to have the roads, railways, ports and air routes
that are going to carry these goods.
means to produce the goods that will be freely traded across the
continent and we need to have the roads, railways, ports and air routes
that are going to carry these goods.
The CFTA will assist Africa as it works towards self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
By trading among
ourselves, we will be able to retain more resources within our continent
to be shared among our people, alleviating poverty and reducing
inequality.
ourselves, we will be able to retain more resources within our continent
to be shared among our people, alleviating poverty and reducing
inequality.
Integration, and
the economic development that will accompany it, will also contribute
towards the maintenance of stability, democracy, peace and development.
the economic development that will accompany it, will also contribute
towards the maintenance of stability, democracy, peace and development.
At the same time,
we need to work with greater determination and urgency to end conflict
and instability to create improved conditions for economic development.
we need to work with greater determination and urgency to end conflict
and instability to create improved conditions for economic development.
Greater integration and inclusive growth provides greater possibilities to replace conflict with constructive dialogue.
Integration will assist in our efforts to silence the guns on our continent.
Programme Director,
This annual meeting
is convened at a time when the multilateral trading system is under
severe strain, largely due to an abandonment by some of the agreed upon
rules of engagement.
is convened at a time when the multilateral trading system is under
severe strain, largely due to an abandonment by some of the agreed upon
rules of engagement.
It is important
that this meeting considers the full extent of this strain because it
carries the risk of reversing the modest gains we have made in placing
development at the centre of the multilateral trading system.
that this meeting considers the full extent of this strain because it
carries the risk of reversing the modest gains we have made in placing
development at the centre of the multilateral trading system.
Our response must be to consolidate and advance the integration of our continental market.
Under the
leadership of President Issoufou, our collective priority should be to
conclude Phase I and II of the negotiations of the CFTA, before
commencing new preferential trading negotiations with third parties
outside of the continent.
leadership of President Issoufou, our collective priority should be to
conclude Phase I and II of the negotiations of the CFTA, before
commencing new preferential trading negotiations with third parties
outside of the continent.
We have set
ourselves a deadline of 2020 to conclude the CFTA negotiations and to
ensure that the liberalisation of trade in goods is complimented by
rules on investment, competition policy and intellectual property
rights.
ourselves a deadline of 2020 to conclude the CFTA negotiations and to
ensure that the liberalisation of trade in goods is complimented by
rules on investment, competition policy and intellectual property
rights.
In this way, we will be able to unlock Africa’s full productive capacity.
I have no doubt
that those of you gathered here have the requisite ability not only to
deal with the economic challenges facing our continent but also to
develop practical programmes that will accelerate the pace towards
meaningful regional integration.
that those of you gathered here have the requisite ability not only to
deal with the economic challenges facing our continent but also to
develop practical programmes that will accelerate the pace towards
meaningful regional integration.
Let us spare
neither effort nor strength as we work collectively to build and achieve
the Africa we want, as articulated in Agenda 2063.
neither effort nor strength as we work collectively to build and achieve
the Africa we want, as articulated in Agenda 2063.
As I conclude,
please allow me, once more, to congratulate Afreximbank for achieving
this milestone, and wish that you grow from strength to strength in
order to make a meaningful contribution in the development of the
continent.
please allow me, once more, to congratulate Afreximbank for achieving
this milestone, and wish that you grow from strength to strength in
order to make a meaningful contribution in the development of the
continent.
I wish you well in your further deliberations.
I thank you.
More from:
The Presidency
More on:
Africa
Address by
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of
the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Abuja, Nigeria Programme
Director,
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of
the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Abuja, Nigeria Programme
Director,
culled:Allafrica
