'Africa has opportunity to determine its own future' if … – Ethiopia PM

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn says the continent has all it takes to determine its future if it structurally transforms its economies in the interest of citizens.

His view was contained in opening remarks made at the start of the African Economic Conference 2017 being held in the capital Addis Ababa.

“Africa has the opportunity to determine its own future and cannot fail to structurally transform its economies for the benefit of its people. This is not time for indecisiveness and passivity,” he was quoted by state-owned FBC to have said.

The conference which runs between Monday December 4 to Wednesday December 6 is under the theme ‘Governance for structural transformation.’

It is under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

African Economic Conference has kicked off in #AddisAbaba and we have ?from the opening ceremony: https://t.co/RnRTkYSD2s This year’s theme is #Governance for structural transformation and you can follow #2017AEC for updates! pic.twitter.com/WDMFkvAXYy

— AfDB_Group (@AfDB_Group) December 4, 2017

Participants are expected over the period to exchange ideas on progress made in the area of economic structural transformation by African governments. They will also discuss policies, programmes and mechanisms that can help governments to unlock their economic potentials.