Kenyan president hails Sisi's presidency to NEPAD's steering committee

CAIRO - 16 July 2023: Kenyan President William Ruto lauded the presidency of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to the Steering Committee of the African Development Agency (NEPAD).

He also referred to the NEPAD's remarkable achievements, especially in issues related to regional and continental integration.

Delivering a speech during the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5th MYCM) of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms and Member States, Ruto also extended thanks to President Sisi over Egypt's success in hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in 2022.

The climate conference served as an opportunity to find a solution to the biggest challenge facing the world, which is climate change, he further said.

"We are determined to lead this Continent and confront our challenges," he went on to say.

Discussions are under way to ensure restoring stability in Sudan, said the Kenyan president during the meeting.

He further hailed the remarkable progress made in all the projects and initiatives implemented on the continent in various spheres.

The Kenyan president said that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the outcome of cooperation among 55 countries, adding that it primarily aims to create a joint continental market at a cost reaching up to trillions of dollars.

It is one of the 13 flagship projects of Agenda 2063:The Africa We Want, of the African Union, he further pointed out.

All African countries have to be proud of such a mega project, he said, adding that the trade zone will lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty.

The Kenyan president further pointed out to the great planning of the African Union, saying that more than 60% of the programs' budgets are financed by the partners.

He also explained that the administrative coordination and the executive mission of the Commission, in addition to the legislative mission, are essential to achieving responsibility towards implementing policies, expressing his hope to build an institution that can finance itself and is capable of leadership that reflects Africa's position “in order for us to assume our place among nations”.

He pointed out that part of the challenges facing African countries is liquidity and debt burdens, blaming the unfair global financing structures that make the African countries pay more interest than others.

He further said that the African continent possesses huge natural resources of minerals and the world's largest stock of arable land, stressing that it is also home to the largest young workforce in the world.