10 Oct 2018

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, has emphasised the fundamental role played by the partnership between Africa and the European Union (EU), highlighting that both will gain from increased economic and political ties.

Officially opening the European Commission Policy Forum on Development on Monday, Dr Venson-Moitoi said EU was still Africa’s principal partner for trade, development and humanitarian assistance.

She said the strategic objective was to promote human capital development as well as knowledge, skills based societies and economies by strengthening links between education and innovation.

Although Africa’s share of European trade and investment was in comparative decline, Dr Venson-Moitoi indicated that the continent’s strategic importance for Europe was on the increase due to concerns over counter-terrorism and migration.

Dr Venson-Moitoi stated that Africa should strive to advance from being  recipients of European aid but rather work on creating an alliance with Europe that would be about unlocking private investment and exploring the huge benefits for both continents alike, with  focus on jobs for youth, responding also to Africa’s demographic patterns.

She said Botswana was keen on establishing herself  as a third partner to share knowledge at local government level  on democracy and rule of law in the continent, adding  that through the partnership,  local personal would be availed  to assist on foreign missions  provided the EU was in a position to fund such assignments.

European Union Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Jan Sadek, stated that EU was Africa’s longstanding partner in the area of education, from early childhood and primary to higher education, including Vocational Education and Training and entrepreneurial learning as well as in research and innovation.

Mr Sadek noted that EU-Africa cooperation on science, technology and innovation (STI) was contributing to the attainment of all other socio-economic development objectives, including Sustainable Development Goals targets.

He said universal access to quality education must be matched with a responsive higher education system responding to African challenges and providing appropriate and relevant skills and research capacity.

Furthermore, president of South Africa Local Government Association, Councillor Mpho Tau, applauded African states for creating environment conducive for foreign investors saying the investment climate in Africa had been generally improving, with significant national differences.

A number of African countries, he said, were working on addressing broader critical governance issues, such as strength of government institutions, rule of law, transparency and accountability, as well as corruption and illicit financial flows which would all translate to boosting private sector investment and enhance macro-economic stability. ENDs