PRESIDENT MACKY SALL AT THE G20 SUMMIT TO ADDRESS AFRICAN CONCERNS
G20 SUMMIT AND AFRICA
The G20 Summit brings together twenty of the most powerful economies in the world.
South Africa is the only African member-state of the G20.
Since 2010, however, the Summit has opened to the African Continent. Two or more African leaders are invited to participate each year, showing interest from world powers in the development of the continent that extends beyond the assistance-only approach, to further inclusion and renewed partnerships.
Since 2013, President Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal as well as Chairman of the NEPAD (The African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development), is invited to participate in the G7 and G20 Summits.
Address African Concerns
Some of the Summit decisions and conclusions have directly affected the African Continent. For example, during the 2015 edition in Antalya, Turkey, for which the Presidents of Senegal, South Africa, and Zimbabwe had harmonized their positions, the G20 leaders expressed their commitment to give priority to the continent in the fulfillment of their program to provide electricity to more than one billion people in the world.
This year in Hangzhou, The Head of State, Macky Sall, met Thursday September 2nd with his South African counterpart, Mr. Jacob Zuma, and Chad’s President, Idriss Déby, to discuss their alignment on a number of themes that would be addressed at the next G20 Summit on September 4th and 5th.
This was a coordination meeting between President Macky Sall in his capacity as Chairman of the Steering Committee of NEPAD, President Déby in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union, and Mr. Jacob Zuma as Head of State of the only African country with membership in the G20. The focus of their meeting was mainly on the topic of industrialization in Africa, but also touched on the issue of tax evasion.
Africa at the 2016 China Summit
This year, in China, African industrialization was amongst the top priorities in the discussions - to promote new opportunities in innovation, the digital economy, and to make the continent a part of the new industrial revolution. Hosting this edition, China had expressed its commitment to support an innovative new plan to be proposed by African Leaders at the Hangzhou Summit: the establishment of a global system promoting the transfer of technology and knowledge, taking into account the specificities of the African Continent through the development of skills in science and technologies.
African Opportunities
The conclusion was drawn again in Shanghai, on the 9th and 10th of July, by Trade Ministers and delegations of the twenty main world economic powers that the slowdown of global trade and growth is persistent.
Roberto Azevêdo, General Director of the WTO, made the announcement that in 2016, for the fifth consecutive year, growth should remain below 3%. With the exception of the collapse that followed the financial crisis, this constitutes the lowest level in global growth in three decades, and the turbulence the Brexit caused in the markets may further darken economic prospects.
In this context, Africa still boasts growth rates of 5% to 7%. Despite falling prices of commodities, the International Monetary Fund estimates that medium-term growth prospects for sub-Saharan Africa will remain positive in 2016, especially for oil importing countries such as Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Senegal; supported by infrastructure investment and robust private consumption, they should boast growth rates above 5%.
Participation of President Macky Sall in his capacity as Chairman of NEPAD
The President of the Republic of Senegal, also Chairman of the Steering Committee of Heads of State and Government of NEPAD, was invited for the fourth consecutive year uninterruptedly to the G20 Summit (G20 - St.Petersburg, Russia in 2013; G20 - Brisbane, Australia in 2014; G20 - Antalya, Turkey 2015). The goal now for the G20 and Africa, is to work together for the growth and development of the continent.
President Macky Sall, Chairman of the Orientation Committee of Heads of States and Government of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
President Macky Sall was elected Chairman of the NEPAD Head of States and Government Orientation Committee in 2013, confirming his leadership on the African continent. Being an Agency of the African Union for the socio-economic development of the continent, the NEPAD is both a vision and a strategic framework for Africa in the 21st century. It deals with a number of programs and projects in six thematic areas: Agriculture and Food Safety, Climate Change and Natural Resources Management, Regional Integration and Infrastructure, Human Development, Economic and Business Development, and Cross-cutting issues.
On behalf of the Presidency of NEPAD, President Macky Sall has been invited to participate in the G20 Summit since 2013.
At the Hangzhou Summit in 2016, he raised the voice of Africa and with his African counterpart, emphasized all the untapped potential of the continent.
President Macky Sall at the G20 2016 Summit: a global platform to defend the prime economic interests of Africa
President Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairman of the Steering Committee of Heads of State and Government of NEPAD, participated in the G20 Summit on the 4th and 5th of September in Hangzhou, China. The African continent was represented by three leaders including President Macky Sall, in his capacity as Chairman of NEPAD; the current Chairman of the African Union, Chadian President Idriss Deby; and the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, whose country is a member of the G20.
Africa, having become a valuable partner, participates more actively in decision-making on major world issues, especially those relating to economics.
President Macky Sall calls for a renewed partnership in the industrialization of the African continent, and for a more active and framed fight against tax evasion and illicit financial flows.
These meetings will also be an opportunity to discuss issues related to the priorities of the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for sustainable development in Africa.
THE AGENDA OF THE 2016 G20 SUMMIT
Sunday, September 4, 2016
● Arrival of Heads of State and family photo
● Official Opening Ceremony of the Summit
● First Session: "Strengthening policy coordination and establishing a new path for development"
Monday, September 5, 2016
● Second Session: "For a more effective global economic and financial governance"
● Third Session: "International Trade and Investment"
● Fourth Session: "Interconnected and inclusive development"
● Fifth Session: Policy Issues (refugee crisis - the fight against terrorism)
● Closing ceremony
● Press conference by Chinese President Xi Jinping
Completion and return to Dakar
THE G20: MAIN GLOBAL ECONOMIC CONSULTATION PLATFORM
Created in December 1999, in response to financial crises affecting emerging markets in the late 1990s, the G20 is the main forum for economic and financial cooperation, and to ensure global growth based on a sound and solid policies and collaboration.
The G20 represents 85% of the world economy and two thirds of the world population.
It consists of South Africa, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, the United States, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the UK, Russia, Turkey, and the European Union.
It is important to stress that, in the context of globalization, the partnership with Africa gives new character to the concept of development due the scope of opportunities brought by the arrival of new players (like Africa).
The partnership with the African continent results in more equitable and fair conditions for cooperation, and recognizes the continent's important role in for global growth and development. It became necessary to institutionalize and systematize the participation of Africa in the development of strategies worldwide.
The representation of Africa in the G20
Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairman of the Steering Committee of Heads of State and Government of the NEPAD, encourages a relationship between Africa and the G20 based on cooperation and recognition of the vast potential for growth and development that is now associated with the continent.
This approach appropriately aims to transform Africa, with the support of NEPAD, implementing a new strategic framework for development. It opts for an inclusive partnership based on the principles and values of entrepreneurship and leadership. The implementation of this new vision benefits from the determination of African leaders to lead their countries - individually and collectively - on the path of growth and development to end the marginalization of Africa on the world stage.
African initiatives for the continent's economic development
At the continental level, the initiatives aimed at creating a policy framework for each sector have been consolidated through the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). At the Dakar Summit for financing Africa's infrastructure in June 2014, 16 projects were selected from PIDA’s action plan and presented to the international community, taking into account their level of development and emphasis on balanced regional selection.
Efforts underpinning this new vision for Africa have been supported by rapid growth over the last decade, reversing the economic decline and stagnation of the continent. This change, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, has placed Africa among the most dynamic economies in the world. Projections indicate that Africa’s GDP is expected to reach $2,600 billion in 2020 (Source McKinsey).
Moreover, the Doing Business 2015 report by the World Bank stressed that the return on investment in the continent is among the most attractive in the world, which means that Africa is a platform for growth and investment. This also marks a potential break with the perpetual battle against poverty and dependence on international aid.
Africa is determined to build a comprehensive partnership, inclusive of and balanced with the G20 on the basis of its strategic program, and aligned with NEPAD, especially through the voice of President Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairman of Committee Orientation of heads of State and Government of the NEPAD.
THE HANGZHOU 2016 G20 SUMMIT, AN OCCASION TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN the SENEGAL - CHINA RELATIONSHIP
Interview with the President of the People's Republic of China, Mr. XI JINPING
China’s Head of State congratulated President Macky Sall for his commitment to African integration.
President Macky Sall was received Thursday by his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and commended for his commitment to development and African integration. The Chinese President was pleased to meet with his Senegalese counterpart two years after his state visit in February of 2014. He expressed his satisfaction with the bilateral relationship between the two countries and specifically, with the results achieved thus far. Senegal’s Head of State, Macky Sall, stated that he is “honored to partake in this mutually beneficial cooperation” arguing that “relations between the two countries have reached a higher level.”
President Macky Sall meets the economic players and investors in Guanzhou for strategic cooperation
President Macky Sall welcomes the ambition of the Chinese President to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
The Head of State, Macky Sall, has welcomed the Chinese government's ambition to strengthen the cooperation between Senegal and China during an economic meeting with Chinese investors in the city of Guangzhou (Guangdong province).
Evoking a ''strategic cooperation,'' the President expressed a willingness to ensure that China will become the largest economic partner of Senegal. He has assured investors that the stable relationship between the two countries is a reason to invest in Senegal, adding that the promotion of investment in Senegal is one of the major policies for the development of direct foreign investment.
Organized by the Agency for Investment Promotion and Major Projects (APIX) and the China Council for the promotion of trade and investment of Canton (CCPIT), this meeting allowed a return to the major projects already in the works for the Senegalese government and to the business opportunities in the country.