Business News
World Economic Forum on African potential kicks off
May 5, 2010, 12:44 GMT
Dar es Salaam - Heads of government and state from 11 African countries, along with more than a thousand representatives from politics and business, met in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam on Wednesday for the 20th World Economic Forum on Africa.
The three-day event will focus on Africa's potential for growth. The continent has abundant natural resources, but high population growth and instability in some African countries have presented obstacles to economic progress.
Anna Tibaijuka, head of the UN Human Settlements Programme Habitat, said she hoped the conference would show that Africa was a continent on the move.
Long-term investment, employment opportunities for young people and a strengthening of the role of women, also as entrepreneurs, were necessary for Africa's development to catch up, she said.
Kuseni Douglas Dlamini, head of the South African financial firm Old Mutual, said that the process particularly needed African participation.
The attention that has come with the football World Cup in South Africa is also giving the continent a chance to redefine itself and fight pessimistic views of Africa, Dlamini said.
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