Kenyan President Dr William Ruto has officially opened the 2024 African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meetings in Nairobi, Kenya at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Ruto has emphasized that African growth will depend on both international trade and intra-African trade.
“There’s a need to have a sense of urgency among African leaders to bring the continent together in trade and economic growth,” Ruto said.
AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina noted that African countries are demonstrating significant resilience amid economic challenges, highlighting that ten African nations are among the fastest-growing economies globally.
“I’m an African. We have the potential to be great as a continent…We have 477 million people under the age of 25. Africa will be the workshop of the world and is full of entrepreneurs and young people able to take opportunities,” Adesina stated.
He also underscored Africa’s agricultural potential, noting that 65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land is in Africa, which will be crucial for the future of global food supply and the continent’s competitiveness.
Addressing climate change, Adesina highlighted it as a key theme at the Annual Meetings. He noted that Africa faces extreme weather patterns, with devastating floods in Kenya and Mozambique and droughts in Tanzania, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, which have declared national emergencies.
Minister of Finance, Simplex Chithyola Banda, was among the dignitaries at the high-level meeting.
By Mirriam Kaliza