Udviklingsminister Ulla Tørnæs (V) kom i en tale tirsdag på en konference i København om erhvervsmuligheder i Afrika ind på, hvordan vi bedst kan hjælpe det afrikanske kontinent.
Af Ulla Tørnæs
During the UN Summit last year in September the international community had an opportunity to take stock of the progresses made within the 2015 Goals, the Millennium Goals.
We concluded that much progress have been made in meeting the goals of halving the number of poor people by 2015. Also in reducing the infant mortality rate major progresses were made. The same goes for halving the number of people without access to clean drinking water.
However in Africa we face persistent pockets of poverty.
This is the reason why two-third of Danish development assistance goes to Africa. And this is the reason why Denmark recently selected (the Sahelian country of, red.) Mali to be yet another of our partner countries on the continent.
However, development assistance can only do so much. Private sector growth is key for sustainable economic growth and thus for any long-term poverty eradication.
Accordingly the two first priorities for Danish development cooperation with Africa are the integration of Africa into the world economy and the promotion of private sector development. Following these sets of priorities are the promotion of peace and stability, human rights and democracy, health, education and environment.
This is one more reason why we should take a look at African growth achievements – and potentials.
In fact, since the mid 1990s 14 Sub Saharan countries have had a yearly economic growth above 5 percent. This for example goes for Tanzania and Zambia, which have had a growth of about 6-7 percent the last years.
There is a rising awareness of the significance of foreign private sector investments into Africa. Europe has traditionally been an investor. More recently South Africa and countries like China and India are following.
Most African countries are pursuing economic reforms intended to secure Africa its right position in the globalised economy. The World Bank Groups “Doing Business” indicators of the business environment are definitely an incentive for governments to do more.
Where then are the new possibilities?
Well, you yourselves are probably the best to judge. Anyway, companies like Carlsberg, A.P. Møller – Mærsk Group, FLSmidth, Dalhoff Larsen & Hornemann, SAS Hotel Group, Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor and the Kjaer Group have seen the possibilities. Small- and medium sized Danish companies are following suit.
You have Danish investors in the dairy sector in Africa. The telecommunication sector has caught the eyes of potential Danish investors as well. You probably know more companies and sectors that are becoming actively involved. During the rest of the day’s programme this important issue will be further discussed.
The Danish government last year presented the trade strategy “Trade, Growth and Development”, in which we outlined the principles that we follow in international trade negotiations.
Central elements, which we pursue within the WTO Doha Round and the European Union, are that international trade is an absolute prerequisite for growth and hereby for the reduction of poverty. It is hence a paradox that the poorest countries so far have had limited possibility to take advantage of the global move towards free trade.
International trade can only become an engine of growth if the developing economies are integrated into the global economy. This is the reason why Denmark actively supports the integration of the developing countries into international trade.
The government priorities within trade, and business and development have the same goal, which is poverty reduction through economic growth. The tools are different, depending on the trade or the business context that they are to be used within.
Efforts in one area, however, will not be successful without efforts in the other. Trade and business are two sides of the same coin.
Let me now turn to our international partners in finance. Present today are the IFC in the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank, the European Development Fund and the African Development Bank.
These financing institutions are the key instruments for African Private Sector Development. And as such they are key potential partners for Danish companies wanting to increase their international presence. Danish companies have a great possibility to become part of the transformation of Africa.
In my view it is good to be part of this transformation process. It is a question of contributing to a better world. But it is just as clear, that companies will only be part of the process, when they also benefit from it.
My point today is that this double objective is a realistic possibility indeed. We have several international, but also a number of Danish, success stories in Africa, the Minister said.
Kilde: www.um.dk
