President El-Sisi’s Speech at AUDA-NEPAD Meeting on Regional & Continental Integration

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

Ladies and gentlemen,

distinguished guests,

At the outset of my speech, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the member countries of the Steering Committee for their cooperation with me during the past period, which has enabled us to guide the activities of NEPAD, empowering it to carry out its role as the executive development arm of the African Union.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the NEPAD Secretariat, led by Executive Director Mrs. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, for her tireless efforts in leading the work of the agency's Secretariat, and for the innovative ideas and serious initiatives she consistently presents.

Dear attendees,

I have been honored, over the past two years, to serve as the Chairperson of the NEPAD Steering Committee. I would like to emphasize that, after this period, I am firmly convinced that the Africa we aspire to is not a dream, but rather a tangible reality within reach, despite the numerous challenges and crises the continent faces both internally and externally.

I would like to point out that, despite all the difficult circumstances, many African countries have succeeded in achieving growth rates that exceed global averages. They have also made significant progress in addressing these challenges, starting with developing health and education systems, localizing vital industries, improving the investment climate, and enhancing intra-Africa trade. There has also been progress in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

These achievements demonstrate the necessity of continuing our joint efforts to drive development efforts in the continent, continue striving to achieve our legitimate demands, and advance our common positions in international forums.

Ladies and gentlemen,

During Egypt’s term as chair of the NEPAD Steering Committee, Egypt focused on implementing specific priorities to contribute to accelerating the implementation of the Africa’s Agenda 2063 and finding sustainable solutions to our challenges, following a comprehensive approach aimed at addressing the root causes of crises and challenges.

In this regard, I would like to highlight some tangible results achieved by the agency during the past period, under the supervision and follow-up of the Steering Committee, in partnership with member states and regional economic groupings.

First, the Steering Committee, in collaboration with the NEPAD Secretariat, addressed the issue of the financing gap seriously. Over the past two years, significant efforts have been made to complete the feasibility study for establishing the agency's development fund. This is in line with the mandate from successive African summits, and a recognition of the importance of developing frameworks and tools to mobilize development financing on the continent, in light of the serious decline in development aid for various reasons.

Therefore, I look forward, together with you, to the relevant African Union bodies concluding the discussions on the feasibility study and approving it at the earliest opportunity, allowing the fund to begin playing its expected role in mobilizing financing and encouraging investment in Africa.

Second, the agency doubled its efforts to drive the implementation of the second Ten-Year Plan of Agenda 2063, and accelerated its pace in identifying and mobilizing funding for infrastructure projects included in the Presidential Infrastructure Program, with a total value of $500 million. Additionally, the agency worked to expedite the implementation of green infrastructure corridors, the Continental Power Plan, and the Common African Agricultural Policy, all aimed at enhancing regional and continental integration efforts.

Third, NEPAD continued its valuable efforts under the supervision of the Steering Committee to invest in human capital by launching initiatives in the fields of education and health. Among the notable successes in recent months was securing $100 million for the African Population Grant Initiative, which our countries have started benefiting from to enhance reproductive health services. Furthermore, €100 million was secured to support projects under the African Skills Initiative, aimed at building human and technical capacities. This was done alongside intensive investment in digital transformation to create millions of job opportunities for our youth.

Fourth, the Steering Committee, in collaboration with the NEPAD Secretariat, and in recognition of the threat posed by climate change, worked swiftly to launch the NEPAD Center of Excellence. We all look forward to its inauguration and the commencement of its activities in Cairo, as it will be an important addition to our tools for addressing this existential threat to our people and continent.

Fifth, achieving these accomplishments required a clear vision and a flexible structure responsive to challenges and seizes opportunities. Therefore, activating NEPAD’s presence in African countries, at the request of the countries and in accordance with their priorities, was high on the Secretariat's list of initiatives, which I personally supported.

For this reason, I am proud of the growing presence of NEPAD offices across the continent, which I witness day by day.

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

These are just a few examples of what has been achieved over the past two years as a result of the efforts of the NEPAD team, under the guidance of the Steering Committee. These examples encourage us to believe in our capabilities and trust in our future. Therefore, let us use our meeting today to reaffirm our commitment and pledge to advance our African agenda and support the role and activities of NEPAD, thus renewing the hopes of our people for their rightful share in peace and development.

Thank you very much.