November 20, 2000
By involving itself in Africa, the International Chamber of Commerce is giving a vote of confidence in the continent's prospects, United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, told a business conference in the Nigerian capital today. In a video-taped message from UN headquarters in New York, urging Africans to respond in kind, Mr Annan said: "If Africa is to prosper and grow it needs a business-friendly climate at home, open markets abroad and assistance from more fortunate countries on other continents."
The UN Secretary General was addressing the opening session of ICC's first regional conference in Africa, which is being attended by business executives headed by ICC President Adnan Kassar and Vice President Richard D. McCormick. A key theme of the conference, hosted by ICC Nigeria, is finding the best investment opportunities in Africa and what types of investment have been the most successful from the viewpoint of multinational companies and local economies alike. Top executives from leading multinationals, among them Nestle, Shell and Unilever, are among the speakers.
Mr Annan said he was especially glad that ICC, which he described as "a highly valued partner of the UN", was focusing on Africa. "No other part of the world faces such daunting challenges, from deadly conflict to pandemic disease." But in many more parts of Africa than many people realised, dramatic changes for the better were taking place - better government, better laws, and more chances for ordinary people to have a say in decisions that affect their lives. "This is a time, when, helped by the right partners, many Africans can make the leap towards a better life," Kofi Annan said.
"One of the first aims of such a partnership must be to build sustainable markets so that Africans can improve their lives by producing, buying and selling, as many Asians have done before them," he added. Mr Annan said that business has a key role in this process. "It is businessmen, risking their own capital by investing in new ideas, who create wealth in the world today and provide the jobs. Governments should encourage them and listen to their advice."
ICC is the world business organization, promoting open trade and investment worldwide. Its membership includes more than 7,000 small and large businesses and business associations in 134 countries.
More Information on Development and Poverty in Africa
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C íŸ 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
