Interview: UN official draws attention to Africa's economic potential
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E-mail Xinhua, April 19, 2014
As the international community narrows its focus on the war-torn countries making up the continent of Africa, Carlos Lopes, the executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), tried to work through Xinhua to draw global attention to the African continent's economic potential.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Lopes described the UN commission for Africa as a "think tank," saying that its " contribution is mostly about policy recommendations and doing studies and research that are helpful for personalizing policies."
In the latest Economic Report on Africa released here last week, the African Union (AU) and UNECA presented their 11-country assessment in an in-depth case study. The study presented in the report, articulated the critical ingredients needed for the continent to spur structural transformation and industrialization.
Established by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1958 as one of the UN's five regional commissions, UNECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development.
Made up of 54 member states, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, UNECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Africa's development challenges.
Lopes joined the UN system 25 years ago and has used his academic background and knowledge of African development to take on his new role.
Lopes was selected in 2012 by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to become the eighth executive secretary of UNECA.
UNECA REPORT
The theme of this year's report is "Dynamic industrial policy in Africa: innovative institutions, effective processes and flexible mechanisms."
This year's case studies were selected because of their representation of the African continent as a whole.
"Normally these reports take a year to produce" because "they are very thorough and they are also based on direct research done on the ground not just desk reviews," he said.
"The countries (in the report) are selected on the basis that they can bring to bear the diversity of the continent," he said.
"We know that Africa has different types of economic sizes but also economic compositions of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)," he said.
As of right now, UNECA looks at different types of country make up to enhance their understanding of varying economic climates, he said.
The UN Commission looks at "what has happened and what has not happened," because "the typology is important," he said.
"In the case of the report...know that some countries have had very consistent policies and we want to evaluate them in some way, " he said.
The research has also demonstrated that "some countries are just starting their journey. That is the case of Rwanda. It has just started," Lopes said.
Rwanda is "a very interesting country in terms of the political determination" with a strong "coherence of policies."
The "coherence of policies go beyond just having a wish in industrialization but also developing a way of dealing with the economy on a macro dimension of policy," he said.
ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RWANDA
"Rwanda has gone from a situation as a land-locked country where people may have felt that it had less chances because of logistics," but it has proven otherwise, he said.
The nation has "all of the elements that make a country attractive for production in this region," he said, adding that the country is "making sure the land lockness is an asset."
"They have so many countries around that have borders around them," he said.
This year's report highlighted the increase in GDP between 2008- 2012.
Between the four-year time period, the country has exceeded " ambitious expectations" with a real GDP (GDP) growth average of 8. 1 percent.
Consequently, Rwanda is on the right track.
"If they create the right incentive schemes and if they create the circulation of goods and services as well as individuals it will allow them to become a hub and position themselves in a different way," he said.
The senior official pointed to the information communication technology (ICT) industry as an example.
"After doing this and trying to put a very intensive drive into information communication technology (ICT) as the niche for the country," he said, adding that Rwanda is "creating the conditions for financial services to become more sophisticated."
"Telecommunications and the attractiveness of the place have been increased quite significantly as a result, potentially becoming a very interesting place for industrialization," he said.
Yet, "it is not going to be the same type of industrialization that a large economy can afford but certainly in the area of IT they have a very good bet," he said. Endite
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