Jonathan arrives Addis Ababa for World Economic Forum on Africa

President Goodluck Jonathan arrived Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Wednesday for the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa alongside seven other African Heads of States.

More than 700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, media and the arts from over 70 countries are expected at the forum which officially kicked off today with the theme “Shaping Africa’s Transformation’.

With Africa experiencing strong growth despite the increasingly volatile global economy, African leaders are expected to use the meeting pursue measures that will transform the region.

The meeting’s agenda, it was also learnt will integrate three pillars: Strengthening Africa’s Leadership; Accelerating Investment in Frontier Markets; and Scaling Innovation for Shared Opportunities

The meeting will also afford African leaders an exceptional opportunity to bring together pan-African and global leaders to discuss the future of the region.

Other African leaders expected at the forum include; Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Djibouti, President Ismail Omar Guelleh; Gabon, President Ali Bongo Ondimba; Gambia, President Yahya Jammeh; Mauritius, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Charles Gaëtan Xavier-Luc Duval; Namibia, Prime Minister Nahas Gideon Angula, Rwanda, President Paul Kagame; Tanzania, President Jakaya M. Kikwete; and Zimbabwe, Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur G. Mutambara, Benin, President Boni Yayi and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

As part of the programme, President Jonathan will today chair an informal session of World Economic Leaders titled ” How can African Countries Boost Regional Trade” where issues including access to financing, building trade capacity, the role of the private sector, fostering regional integration, developing African supply chains based on value added goods and best practices will be discussed.

He will also partake as a panelist alongside other African leaders in a plenary session titled ‘Africa’s Leadership’ chaired by the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab. The session is expected to address issues on fighting poverty and inequality, fostering regional and sub regional integration and positioning Africa in a new global environment.

On Friday the President is expected to contribute at a bilateral meeting alongside Professor Schwab. He is also scheduled to lead a discussion, titled ‘Insights into West and Central Africa’.

Nigeria’s Business Mogul Aliko Dangote is also expected to lead a discussion at the forum.

The President was accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Finance Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, National Planning Shamsudeen Usman, Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga and the minister of state for Health, Ali Pate, amongst others.