Sisi urges for public, private sectors' integration to develop African infrastructure

CAIRO - 25 May 2019: Marking the Africa Day occasion, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi gave a speech on Saturday urging African countries to benefit from both the private and the public sectors to develop their infrastructure,inter-connectivity and integration .

Sisi said that the African continent is moving steadily towards achieving sustainable development through the implementation of the ambitious African Union's 2063 Agenda for the socio-economic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years.

“We also have to work more for the development of our human resources,” he added.

In his televised address president Sisi extended his greetings to all African peoples on the occasion of Africa Day, which marks the historic anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is now known by the name of the African Union (AU), saying that this day in history ushered in a new era in the path of African solidarity.

On this day, 56 years ago, the founding fathers of the OAU set out on the road of unity and cooperation in Africa and laid the foundation for continental economic integration and joint action, setting off Africa's transition towards stability, progress and prosperity, Sisi said.

“We are now reaping the fruits of the efforts exerted by the founding fathers of the OAU and the hard work of successive generations of Africans over the past decades.”

Egypt assumed the chairmanship of the African Union in February. It is also hosting the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

“Every day that passes adds more strength to our joint efforts to find solutions to conflicts and problems which our continent has suffered from for decades and which have for long prevented the realization of the dreams of its people,” he said.

He also said that in order to achieve their common objectives, it is crucial for African countries to make better use of the African private sector alongside the African public sector to be able to build mega continental projects to develop the African infrastructure, “thus contributing to the realization of our integration and market linkage plans, in pursuance of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, whose entry into force will be celebrated at our extraordinary summit in Niger in June.”

Also, Sisi urged African countries to develop their human resources and prepare their young people to keep abreast of the developments of the times and to take responsibility for the future of their continent.

He called as well for consolidating the role of African women who are a key element of the continent’s economic transformation and stability.

Furthermore, Sisi underlined the need to strengthen people-to-people cultural bonds, to strengthen the African identity and “uphold the principles of African solidarity”.

“We have to commit ourselves to fulfilling the dreams of the OAU Founding Fathers and the aspirations of the great peoples of Africa to build a stable and prosperous continent” that is capable of ensuring a decent life for all its people and serving the entire human civilization through its culture of tolerance and love, he said.

“We are open to cooperating with all international partners to build a brighter future for Africa to contribute to the stability and prosperity of our world,” he emphasized, wishing African countries more progress and stability in the years to come.