STATEMENT BY DR. EDWARD SAMBILI, CBS, PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF STATE FOR PLANNING, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND VISION 2030, AT THE FIFTH CONFEENCE OF EXPERTS DURING THE AFRICAN MINISTERS IN CHARGE OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION (COMAI V) EXPERTS MEETING INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, NAIROBI, KENYA, SEPTEMBER 5 TH TO 7 TH , 2011

Dr. Rene Kouassi N'guettia, Director of African Union, Economic Affairs Department,

Excellencies Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Representatives of Regional and International Organizations,

Experts,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

It is an honour and privilege for me to address this experts meeting of the Fifth Conference of African Ministers in Charge of Integration. At the outset, I would like to welcome all of you to Kenya. This is a country famous for its natural beauty and extremely friendly and welcoming people. For those visiting Kenya for the first time, please feel free and enjoy your stay as you sample the wide variety of cultural and social experiences in Nairobi and surrounding areas.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Kenya is honoured to host this conference as part of our committment to the regional integration agenda. From the outset, I would like to commend the African Union for convening this conference at this critical moment when regional integration agenda is one of the main agenda items across international and regional forums. As we are aware, the continent is experiencing a number of challenges ranging from food insecurity, high fuel prices, low investments, youth unemployment and social unrest as well as adverse climatic conditions which undermine our ability to meet the Millennium Development Goals. There is therefore urgent need for us to diligently pursue the attainment of integration as part of Africa's development strategy in order to not only ameliorate the challenges we are facing but also strengthen our bargaining position in the global economy.

 

What is therefore expected of us as experts in this meeting? You recall that during COMAI 1 to 4, a number of challenges were identified; specific recommendations and priority areas for action were made towards the road to integration. So far, the level of implementation is low. So, where have we gone wrong? We need to critically evaluate our strategies and come up with tangible and innovative recommendations on where we want to see our continent's integration agenda in the near future. We must come up with mechanisms for fast-tracking and monitoring the implementation of the agreed recommendations. The recommendations we make may serve as a window of opportunity for African researchers both from within and without to assist the African Union Commission in finding solutions to several problems being experienced by the continent.

The push for deeper African integration must be premised on an understanding that integrating our economies will leverage Africa's collective bargaining power in international fora, enhance its effective participation in the international economic system, and provide the continent with a platform for prudent management of trans-boundary resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At stake is the fact that African Member States cannot fully integrate without sacrificing aspects of their sovereignty for the common goal. In today's market driven economies, the stringent application of the defense of total sovereignty does not apply. For us to move African integration to the next level as envisioned in the Abuja Treaty (1991), it will necessitate making necessary sacrifices which include ceding some degree of sovereignty, over certain policy matters. Political will must spearhead and accompany sovereignty. Half way measures would only delay the fruits of deeper integration. Legal instruments and decisions agreed upon towards fostering integration must be respected by Member States. At the same time, our integration must be build on a firm foundation of good governance, transformative leadership, peace and security in member countries, rule of law political and civic commitment and mutual trust among countries. More positively, the fact that our Heads of State and Government have been discussing the strengthening of the African Union Commission, including giving it executive powers to better play its coordination role in Africa's integration as well as ensure the implementation of African Union Summit Decisions implies some political will towards strengthening regional integration.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we pursue integration, we must appreciate that time has now come for the continent to take charge of its destiny by financing its own development programmes and move away from too much dependence on External support. We can only determine our own priorities and pursue them vigorously if the required financing is generated from within. The current financing arrangement for the African Union by Member States and Partner Funds is no longer adequate, sustainable and reliable to meet the growing financing needs of the Union. We therefore must come up with alternative sources of financing our integration agenda. We must also support the Minimum Integration Plan as a mechanism for convergence on the basis of priority areas to be implementended at regional and continental level by the RECs. The Minimum Integration Plan (MIP) should form the missing link between the Abuja Treaty and its realization. We should therefore support the MIP as a flagship project of the AU.

Ladies and Gentlemen

As we all know, all African countries belong to at least one or two of the regional economic groupings. These economic groupings have been instrumental in generating benefits such as creating larger markets to permit economies of scale, wider competition and increased foreign investment, strengthening unity for international negotiations and increased bargaining power, resolving inter-state conflicts, management of shared natural resources, and convergence of macroeconomic policies. In spite of this, we still need to come up with innovative approaches to harmonize activities of the RECs and fast-track rationalization to address costly overlapping and multiple memberships of Member States.

I would like to strongly salute COMESA, EAC and SADC RECs for their efforts towards bringing about convergence of their respective trade regimes. Economic Community for Central African States (ECCAS) and Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) are also working together towards rationalization. The East African Community Partner States have also set pace for African Integration by implementing a Common market. I believe these initiatives in the different regions are encouraging signs of better things to come for the continent's integration process.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Allow me to reiterate once again that you have met here to primarily help to shape and fine – tune the strategic direction Africa should embark upon in pushing for regional integration. It is an exercise worthy of your3 days of hard work. It is therefore my hope that as experts, we will come up with recommendations to address these very pertinent issues and bring the continent a step closer to its ultimate desire for full integration and realize all the benefits that will come with.

 

With these remarks, may I declare this conference open.

 

THANK YOU ALL.