B[b]y Andualem Sisay
The 20th World Economic Forum on Africa concluded in Dar es Salaam with a call to end the continent’s marginalization.

Africans must believe in themselves and “be the change the y want to see” was a message that resonated across the Forum’s sessions and private meetings.

President Kikwete of Tanzania reminded participants at the closing plenary that the smallest share of global exports comes from Africa – just 3.5%. “Africa remains predominantly a primary producer and importer for industrial use. We produce what we don’t consume and we consume what we don’t produce,” he said. “This cannot continue.”

Despite Africa’s huge potential, it suffers from lack of integration in the global economy. In the press statement of the Forum, President of Tanzania Jakaya M. Kikwete is quoted as saying: If there is any predicament to African development, it is this state of affairs”. “It is time to move Africa from the periphery to the centre of the global economy,” he said.

Thirteen African heads of state/government participated together with more than 1,000 participants from 85 countries. Rethinking Africa’s Growth Strategy was the theme of the meeting.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Eleni Gebre-Medhin (PhD) CEO, Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, have also addressed a press conference on May 6, 2010 on the second day of the forum.

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization engaged in improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

President Kikwete reminded participants at the closing plenary that the smallest share of global exports comes from Africa – just 3.5%. Just a trickle of global foreign direct investment (FDI) goes to Africa at 0.96% and the continent is not integrated into international financial markets.

“Africa remains predominantly a primary producer and importer for industrial use. We produce what we don’t consume and we consume what we don’t produce,” he said. “This cannot continue.”

To end the continent’s marginalization, Africans must believe in themselves and “be the change they want to see” was a message that resonated across the Forum’s sessions and private meetings. Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, noted that the upcoming World Cup 2010 will show the world that Africa is ready to do anything.

“There were a lot of doubts and skepticism. But people who come to Africa will see that we are not just bushes and mountains. They will see how Africa is ready to do anything that can be done anywhere else in the world.”

President Zuma urged potential investors to act now. “In a short period of time, Africa is going to be the place for doing business globally. FDI will come on its own.”

Africa’s mindset has to change, said Anna Tibaijuka, Undersecretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), Nairobi, and Co-Chair of the meeting. She called for an “all hands on deck” approach to African development.

“There is role to be played by everyone. But we cannot afford to have more than half our population underutilized and 60% of young people left behind. Follow up and follow through with local action for regional and global growth.”

According to the information obtained from its official website, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests and incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

The next World Economic Forum on Africa will take place in Cape Town, South Africa next year from 4 to 6 May 2011.

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