President Museveni calls for urgent action to industrialize

By: Ismael Kasooha

NEW YROK

President Yoweri Museveni has told world leaders gathered in New York that Africa needs to take urgent action themselves to advance sustainable industrialization as a key element of socio-economic transformation.

Museveni noted that the UN General Assembly adopted the First Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA I) from 1980 – 1990 and the Second (IDDA II) from 1993 – 2002 and wondered where Africa was in the global industrialization trek from 2003 to 2016 when IDDA III was launched.

“Several resolutions, decisions, declarations and initiatives have been made but Africa remains the poorest and the most vulnerable region in the world.  Therefore, African countries have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, bearing in mind the need for their development efforts to be supported by an enabling international economic environment,” noted the president.

He said that that African states must urgently take action if they are to industrialize and create employment for the young and increasing population.

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah (right) talking to a delegate during the IDDA Conference in New York

“Despite the above-mentioned resolutions, decisions, declarations and initiatives, Africa remains the poorest and the most vulnerable region in the world and noting also the need for the continent to take urgent action to advance sustainable industrialization as a key element of furthering economic diversification and value addition, creating jobs and thus reducing poverty and contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” noted the President.

This was contained in the President’s message delivered by the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja at the High Level Event on the 3^rd Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III).  This was at the sidelines of the 79^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Museveni expressed concern that the cost of financing remains very high in most African countries and this inhibits private sector participation in the development initiatives on the continent.

“Our strategic focus should be on enabling both the private sector and public sector to drive sustainable industrial development. To do this, these are some of the elements we must prioritize,” he noted.

He highlighted several factors that must be addressed by African leaders to drive sustainable industrial development.

Museveni said that low cost of transport, low cost of electricity, low cost of money, Educated, skilled human resource and an integrated continental market will not only stimulate rapid socio-economic transformation and advance in Africa but will also provide a powerful center of gravity or prosperity for all our genuine partners in the world.

The President asked African states to make use of the huge population that is expected to increase to over 2.5 billion people by 2050 to expand the market.

The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah (centre) with other world leaders during the IDDA conference in New York

“Besides the roads, we must aim at interconnecting Africa and Africa with the rest of the world using mainly the railway and air transport and water transport. The impact of this will be a significant reduction of the cost of doing business as well as the time for doing business.  The African continent that is inter-connected with itself and the rest of the world will be ripe for accelerated industrial development given the enormous natural resources that Africa boasts of,” he explained.

He noted that Energy is the biggest enabler of industrial development as well as advanced agricultural production.

“We are doing very well in this area, particularly in Uganda, with increased generation and transmission of electricity; and the dividends are encouraging. As a continent, together with our international development partners, we need to redouble our efforts on availing energy for production.  A focus on green energy technologies would be ideal for sustainable development,” he said.

The leaders issued a communique of 14 issues if Africa is to industrialize sustainably under the theme “Sustainable Industry for Africa’s Tomorrow; building resilience across generations.

The event was attended by Heads of State and Government from the African Union, the African Union Commission, Heads of UN agencies, development finance institutions and the private sector.

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