Ssekandi in Mauritius for African Economic Summit

The Vice-President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has arrived in the Mauritius capital of Port Louis where he has joined other African Heads of State and Government at the continent's first meeting of the recently formed African Economic Platform.

The Vice President, who was received in Port Louis by Mauritius Attorney General Ravi Yerrigadoo, is leading Uganda's delegation to the Platform (AEP) that is bringing together the continent leaders and other stakeholders in Africa's economic development.

Ssekandi, who is scheduled to address at the inaugural platform, will also hold sideline talks with other African leaders on issues of bilateral mutual interest and later hold talks with the leadership of the Indian Ocean Island nation.

The Inauguration of the African Economic Platform in Port Louis follows the adoption of the position during the 29th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, in Kigali, in July last year. The forum shall act as a lobby and advocacy platform for the economic agenda of the AU and facilitate fast tracking of African integration and development.

According to a statement by the AU ahead of the event "one of the lessons learnt after the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/ AU was that, Africa has to take charge of its development if it is to meet the expectation of ever becoming an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena."

It added that the continent needs to set its agenda and take responsibility for its development, to find African solutions to our challenges and mobilise domestic and other resources for its needs, based on a set of ideals and priorities that reflect the values and aspirations of Africans.

The African Economic Platform (AEP) is aimed at institutionalising a new annual platform for African leaders and create an avenue for dialogue amongst a range of sectors, including the African political leadership and policy makers, business leaders in the private sector, academicians and intellectuals which are deemed critical to the African economic transformation agenda.

It will operate within the framework of the implementation of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 and other progressive decisions and programs designed to promote African integration and development. Each Forum will set measurable short to medium term milestones and establish a clear road map for achieving them.

It is envisaged to Work with African leaders to remove policy obstacles for doing business in Africa, increasing the investment attractiveness of the continent, the implementation of strategies for economic diversification and industrialization, and domestic and other resource mobilization.