Kigali: President Kagame on Friday reiterated the role of integration, strong private sector and promoting trade among Africans as key to continental transformation.
The Head of State was addressing over 1000 business leaders and operators from Africa, Asia, Europe and America attending the first ever Private Sector Golden Business Forum in Kigali, under the theme “Unlocking Africa Trade with Itself and the World”.
“Africa’s continued growth requires global linkages, especially through business-to-business relationships. The more we trade with each other, within Africa, the more we will be able export to the rest of the world, as well, but it increases the understanding of each other and creates a good relationship among our neighbours. Definitely, there is direct correlation” President Kagame said.
President Kagame welcomed a number of reforms that have taken place on the continent for the last 15 years – where African countries have been among the strongest performers on the World Bank’s Doing Business, as well as the pace of regional and continental integration that has accelerated significantly.
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which is now in force, the Protocol on the Free Movement of People that has been signed, and the adoption of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) are among those key promissing reforms.
“These agreements are set to remake African economies for the better, generating new opportunities for the firms who are ready to take full advantage. Of course, we expect that African companies will be in the lead, showing the way. Governments are only part of the equation. We cannot do it without the private sector” President Kagame added.
The inaugural Golden Business Forum discusses investment challenges in Africa and how to address them in the interests of boosting investments.
The launch of Golden BusinessForum was followed by a Gala dinner where the best Exhibitors for this year’s Rwanda International Trade Fair that ends on Sunday 11thwere awarded. (End)