AU/TD/ACPRDC Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference: Industrial Development: Cross-Perspectives from China and Africa 18-20 November 2014 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 10/13/2014
Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference: Industrial Development: Cross-Perspectives from Africa and China 1. Background The African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2014 presented a positive picture of the short-term and medium-term economic prospects of Africa. Statistics indicate that Africa s economy grew by 4% on average in 2013. It is projected to accelerate to close to 5% in 2014 and 5%-6% in 2015 1, thus to levels last seen before the onset of the 2009 global recession. In large part, this growth is considered as relatively broad-based and attributable to expansion in agricultural production, robust growth in services and a rise in oil production and increased mining activity mainly in resource-rich countries. In spite of predicted growth, Africa faces high uncertainties in its pursuit of prosperity and stability. With less than one fifth of Africa s young workers finding waged employment, the cross-cutting theme on pro-poor growth and enhanced economic and social transformation still needs to be embedded in sectoral policies and programs of regional mechanisms and institutions. Just as China learned from the faster-growing East Asian newly industrialized economies and maintained rapid GDP growth of nearly 10% a year in the past 35 years, industrialization has the potential to drive Africa s transformation agenda and help tackle problems of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Thus the African Continental Priorities enshrined in the African Union s Agenda 2063 have put industrialization as a key driver, linked with agriculture and food security 2. African countries can seize the opportunities of labor-intensive industries relocating from China and other emerging economies. The future of Africa s industrial development is therefore not just a result of choices among alternative paths offered from within or outside of Africa, but rather a combination of concerted global, regional and national efforts. In this process, it is common understanding that the structural transformation in Africa is for inclusive and people-centred development 3. Policy frameworks require re-consolidation and re-structuring, and the quest for equitable and inclusive growth should always be high on the agenda. A top-level design for industrial transformation is essential to tapping the potential of the continent s comparative advantages and strengthening its inter-linkages with other sectors. Therefore, emerging economies are expected to play a bigger role in providing ideas, tacit knowledge, opportunities as well as development finances for Africa s industrial development. In the meantime, the cooperation between Africa and emerging economies, including China, will foster a win-win strategy for employment generation, capacity development, and transformation in the years to come in the continent. The conference is being organized as part of a week of activities commemorating Africa 1 African Economy Outlook 2014 http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/fileadmin/uploads/aeo/2014/pdf/ebook_african_economic_outlook_2014.pdf. 2 Africa s Agenda 2063 http://www.uneca.org/sites/default/files/uploads/zero_draft_agenda_2063_document_19.03.2014_rev1.pdf 3 Common African Position on Post 2015 http://www.africa.undp.org/content/dam/rba/docs/reports/rba-common-position.pdf 1
Industrialization Day. The conference thematic sessions will be held 18&19 November, and a special session (see separate programme) on 20 November to celebrate Africa Industrialization Day (AID) 2. Theme The overall theme for the week of commemoration of the Africa Industrialisation Day is Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development: African Agro-industry for Food Security. The Africa-China Conference will focus on Industrial Development: Cross-Perspectives from Africa and China. This theme is proposed because the African continent is undergoing economic and social transformation, and according to Agenda 2063 it is imperative that African countries focus on industrial development as a consolidated basis for economic diversification, and act in a more concerted manner to enhance integration in regional and global value chains. The Conference will specifically look into three areas under this theme: (1) Scenario analysis of challenges and opportunities for Africa s industrial development in an increasingly integrated and globalized economy building on regional and global value chains; (2) Experience from rapidly industrializing countries in both Africa and Asia to unleash industrial growth for equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth; and (3) Developing robust public-private partnerships to promote innovation and technology transfer for sustainable economic and social transformation in Africa. 3. Time and Venue The Conference will be held in Addis Ababa, 18 th -20 th, 2014, co-hosted by the African Union Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) and the Government of Ethiopia. 4. Design of Activities The Conference consists of a one-and half day intensive discussion: (1) the first day comprises the opening ceremony and two thematic discussion sessions; and (2) the second half day follows with two thematic discussion sessions and the conclusion session. And after the conference, a half-day field visit will be organized by the hosting government (TBC). This will be followed by the celebration of the Africa Industrialization day on 20 November 2014 5. Participants 2
The number of participants will be approximately 300, including government officials from Africa and China, renowned experts and scholars and representatives from universities, research institutions, civil society, international organizations and embassies. Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference Industrial Development: Cross-Perspectives from Africa and China November 18-20 th 2014 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Hosted by: African Union Ministry of Industry (MOI), Ethiopian Government International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) First Day (Tuesday, 18 th Nov) Opening Ceremony + Substantive Discussion Opening Ceremony Moderator: African Union Commission 9:30-10:10 Speeches: (10 minutes/person) Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (TBD) Mr. Zheng Wenkai, Vice Minister of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), P.R. China Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia (TBD) Commissioner of Trade and Industry/ African Union Prime Minister of Ethiopia (TBD) 10:10 10:40 Keynote address: Africa s and China s Industrial Development Experiences Dynamic Industrialization Policy for Africa (UNECA/AU Economic Report for Africa 2014 Dr. Bethuel Kinuthia, University of Nairobi, (invited by UNDP) The Rise of China and the Opportunity for Africa's Structural Transformation Prof. Justin Yifu Lin, Honorary Dean of National School of Development(NSD), Peking University, Former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the 3
World Bank (invited by IPRCC) 10:40-11:00 Group Photo & Tea Break 11:00-11:45 Session I: Global, Regional and National Perspectives on Successes, Challenges and Opportunities for Africa s Industrial Development Moderator: Ms. He Xiaojun, Deputy Director-General of IPRCC Speeches: (15 minutes/person) 1. The Successes, Challenges and Opportunities for Africa s Industrialization in the new Global Economic Context Speaker: Representative of UNIDO (invited by AUC) 2. Regional Integration and Human Development in Africa: Translating Broad-based Economic Growth into Equitable Benefits Sharing Speaker: Senior Official from ECOWAS/ECA/SADC/COMESA (invited by AUC) 3. Africa on the Move: The Agenda 2063 Speaker: Dr Frank Mugyenyi (or someone from BCP), DTI/ AUC 4. The progress and potential of African Industrial Development Speaker: TBD, (invited by UNDP) 11:45-12:30 Q&A and Discussion 12:30-14:00 Lunch Break Session II: Reflections on China s Experience in Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (Speakers invited by IPRCC) (Topics for Discussion include factors behind China success stories on industrial development, i.e. role of government, policies on SMEs (or Township and Village Enterprises), process of fostering industry chains and; experience on industrial growth for equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth) 14:00-15:00 Moderator: Senior Official from UNDP China Speeches: (10 minutes/person) 1. The Experiences of China s Industrial Development: Implications for Africa Speaker: Prof. Li Xiaoyun, Dean, College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University 2. How Labor-intensive Industrialization Contributed to Poverty Reduction in China Speaker: Prof. Yu Miaojie, National School of Development, Peking University 4
3. Sustainable Financing for SME Development, Experience from China Speaker: Dr. Huang Jianhui, Deputy Director General of Financial Research Center, China Development Bank 4. Shanghai s Experience in Poverty Reduction through Local Industrial Development: Mr.Lin Xiang, Director-General, Cooperation & Exchange Office of Shanghai Municipal People s Government 5. Zhejiang s Experiences in Promoting Employment through Development of SMEs Speaker: Mr. Shao Feng, Deputy Director-General, Poverty Alleviation Office in Zhejiang Province, P. R. China 15:00-16:00 Q&A and Discussion 16:00-16:30 Tea Break Group discussion on: Identifying emerging opportunities and follow-up actions for Africa China collaboration at continental, sub-regional and national levels [Senior trade and industry officials from at least 10 African Countries will be invited to share their experiences during the group discussions] Facilitator(s): AUC, UNDP and Chinese counterparts 16:30-18:00 Group A: Strategies and Policies Group B: Hard (Physical) and Soft Infrastructure Group C: Market and Supply Chains The participants will be divided into three groups, each group will review relevant discussions in previous sessions, enrich them with national, regional or global cases, and come up with concrete recommendations. Their recommendations will not only touch upon overarching policy framework (including regional and national policies and mechanisms) but also include specific interventions and programmes. Instructions will be provided to participants in advance. Summary of discussions and implications for future work Moderator: Mr. Richard Carey, Independent Development Advisor (invited by IPRCC) 18:00-18:30 Speakers: Each group will present the key findings and discussion (10 minutes/group) - Some concrete future steps for utilizing the outcomes of discussions that need to be identified - Mutual learning plan could be discussed and proposed for future follow up 18:30-19:30 Cocktail Reception hosted by Ethiopian Government (TBD) 5
Second Day (Wednesday, 19 th Nov) : Substantive Discussion + Wrap-up Session III: Panel Discussion on Consolidating Policies, Institutions, Infrastructure and Human Capacity for Industrial Development Moderator: Senior Official from Ethiopian Government 09:00-09:45 Panelists: 1. National industrial policy frameworks for inclusive industrial development Speaker: Government representative (TBD) (chosen by AUC between the participants) 2. Sector based policies for accelerated industrial development: infrastructure, agriculture, extractive industry, labor-intensive manufacturing Speaker: World Bank Study on light manufacturing in Africa (Hinh T. Dinh, Dimitris A. Mavridis, Hoa B. Nguyen) 3. Best practices in institutional capacity development for accelerated industrial development Speaker: (chosen by AUC between the participants) 4. Lessons learned in human resource development through public and private investments Speaker: Private sector representative (chosen by AUC between the participants) 09:45-10:15 Moderated discussion 10:15-10:45 Tea Break Session IV: Public Private Partnerships: Role of Private Sectors in Industrial Development and Creating Employment (Topics for Discussion are suggested as follows: roles of private sectors in achieving sustainable development in Africa, enabling policies, financing arrangements, human capital development and the environment) 10:45-11:45 Moderator: Representative from UNDP Speeches: (15 minutes/person) 1. SMEs in Africa: Obstacles, Improvements and Innovations Speaker: UNIDO (invited by AUC) 2. The Impact of Multinational Enterprises on Industrial Upgrading and Poverty Reduction Speaker: Dr. Fu Xiaolan, Professor of Technology and International Development, University of Oxford (invited by IPRCC) 6
3. Enhancing Financial Support for SMEs Speaker: Representative from AfDB/IFC (invited by UNDP) 4. Ethiopia Industrial Park: An example for Africa-China Cooperation on Promoting Labour-intensive Manufacturing in Africa Speaker: Ms.Helen Hai, Advisor to Government of Ethiopia (invited by IPRCC) 5. Women Economic Empowerment Speaker: To be selected by AUC 11:45-12:15 Q&A and Discussion Wrap-up : Enhancing Africa s trade competiveness, integration and diversification Moderator: African Union Commission. 12:15-12:50 Concluding Remarks: (8 minutes/person) Mr. Zuo Changsheng, Director General of IPRCC UN Resident Coordinator in Ethiopia Representative from Ethiopian government Representative from African Union (Commissioner of Trade and Industry) 12:50-14:00 Lunch Afternoon Field Visit to an Industrial Park (TBD) Third Day Africa Industrialization Day 7