Mbeki unveils Africa millennium plan

South African President Thabo Mbeki has outlined a new “recovery” plan for Africa to tackle conflict, poverty and encourage economic investment and growth. Mbeki has dubbed his strategy an “African Marshall Plan”. Mbeki told delegates attending the meeting that the programme was a “declaration of commitment by African leaders to take responsibility for economic development of the continent”. He said priority areas included creating peace, stability and democratic governance, developing an industrial strategy and increasing investment in the information technology and communications sectors. He added that the plan envisaged both Africa wide and regional initiatives and economic development initiatives like the development of agriculture and agro-industries, economic infrastructure, promotion of competitiveness and economic integration to managed at regional and sub-regional levels. “Participation will be open to all African countries prepared and ready to commit to the underlying principles guiding the initiative. We intend to brief all African heads of state over the next few months. Our aim is to be as inclusive as possible. Thereafter substantive consultations with leaders of the developed countries and multilateral institutions would take place,” Mbeki noted. For more details of Mbeki’s speech go to: http://www.gov.za/events/wefmap.htm