PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Senegal: Sall urges the West to face China's strong competition in Africa
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Senegalese President Macky Sall said on Monday in Diamniadio, about 40 km from Dakar, that the presence of China in Africa should not worry the West, urging businesses to accept to face Chinese competition on the continent.
"I know that Chinese presence disturbs many, but we should see it positively. It is useless to be angry at Africans because of the presence of the Chinese," President Sall said at the opening ceremony of the first Francophonie economic forum.
Speaking at the forum attended by several personalities and businessmen of the countries of the Francophonie, President Sall said Africa was nobody's private hunting ground, but needed the presence of investors from all parts of the world for its development.
"Northern businesses and Westerners must accept competition in Africa. The competition is open. We need competition, we need a win-win partnership. This is the new Africa, the Africa of my generation," the Senegalese president added as he stressed the economic potential of the continent.
"Africa is a land of opportunities, because everything has to be built: highways, railways and bridges. Let's work on a public-private partnership basis," he said, calling for improved governance and the rule of law.
"Let's improve governance in our countries. It is necessary that Africa moves forward in terms of governance, good governance and rule of law."
According to President Sall, Africans should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the presence of both Chinese as Westerners.
''We need to synergize these opportunities. Why not make the best of the significant contribution of Chinese funds, European and American or Canadian technology and African opportunities?'' he asked.
Among personalities attending the forum are the outgoing Secretary General of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF), Abdou Diouf, the mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé, the Canadian Minister of International Development and Francophonie, Christian Paradis and Vice President of the World Bank, Makhtar Diop.
The meeting, which ends on Tuesday, is taking place on the heels of the two-day 15th summit of the OIF, which ended on Sunday in Diamniadio.
-0- PANA ASA/ASA/IBA/JEN/MA 1Dec2014
"I know that Chinese presence disturbs many, but we should see it positively. It is useless to be angry at Africans because of the presence of the Chinese," President Sall said at the opening ceremony of the first Francophonie economic forum.
Speaking at the forum attended by several personalities and businessmen of the countries of the Francophonie, President Sall said Africa was nobody's private hunting ground, but needed the presence of investors from all parts of the world for its development.
"Northern businesses and Westerners must accept competition in Africa. The competition is open. We need competition, we need a win-win partnership. This is the new Africa, the Africa of my generation," the Senegalese president added as he stressed the economic potential of the continent.
"Africa is a land of opportunities, because everything has to be built: highways, railways and bridges. Let's work on a public-private partnership basis," he said, calling for improved governance and the rule of law.
"Let's improve governance in our countries. It is necessary that Africa moves forward in terms of governance, good governance and rule of law."
According to President Sall, Africans should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the presence of both Chinese as Westerners.
''We need to synergize these opportunities. Why not make the best of the significant contribution of Chinese funds, European and American or Canadian technology and African opportunities?'' he asked.
Among personalities attending the forum are the outgoing Secretary General of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF), Abdou Diouf, the mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé, the Canadian Minister of International Development and Francophonie, Christian Paradis and Vice President of the World Bank, Makhtar Diop.
The meeting, which ends on Tuesday, is taking place on the heels of the two-day 15th summit of the OIF, which ended on Sunday in Diamniadio.
-0- PANA ASA/ASA/IBA/JEN/MA 1Dec2014
