Following is the text of a statement from Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of Africa Industrialization Day (20 November):
Today we mark the first Africa Industrialization Day of the new Millennium. I welcome the theme of this observance, "The New Imperative for Integration into the Global Market: Strengthening Africa's Productive Capacities", which calls for a focus on improving the productivity of Africa's industries. It also gives us the opportunity to explore the industrial strengths of African economies in today's globalizing world.
Globalization has, so far, largely passed Africa by. The continent's share in global investment inflows and its contribution to global trade remain at low levels. Yet there are reasons to be hopeful. As latecomers in globalization, African economies can learn from others' mistakes.
But becoming a strong player in the global market will require a long-term commitment to education and training, as well as to research and development activities. The world's most competitive economies could not have achieved that status without combining good governance and serious investment in research, development, and the improvement of skills. As new technologies offer African countries the opportunity to leapfrog traditional stages of development, there is an added premium on skills and knowledge. This reinforces the critical importance of developing and managing them
To seize the opportunities and reap the benefits of the rapid technological advances of the 1990s, all stakeholders must work hand in hand in a determined and concerted effort. This, in turn, requires crossing conventional boundaries and divisions. Governments have a crucial role to play by listening to, and facilitating partnerships with, the private sector. This is essential if their countries are to realize their full potential for industrial development.
If African industries are to prosper and grow, they need a business-friendly climate at home; open markets abroad; and the support of technologically advanced countries in other continents. Renewed support for the Industrialization Development Decade for Africa can help provide fresh impetus to the process, and the United Nations stands ready to make every contribution it can. By working together, we can make a difference.
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