On the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Guinean Minister of Planning, International Cooperation, and Development, Ismaël Nabé, emphasized the need to accelerate the transformation of Africa's economic potential into tangible outcomes. Speaking at the High-Level Breakfast Dialogue organized by the Labour African Network, Nabé highlighted the importance of creating jobs, developing skills, and expanding investment opportunities for Africa's next generation.
The event brought together ministers, ambassadors, development institutions, investors, business leaders, and technology actors to discuss the theme "Africa's Next Generation: Creating Jobs, Developing Skills and Expanding Investment Opportunities." Nabé summarized his message, stating that Africa has abundant opportunities but struggles with converting them into concrete results. He stressed the need to transform the continent's economic potential into productive jobs, skills development, and investment mobilization.
Nabé's vision aligns with Guinea's Simandou 2040 initiative, which aims to go beyond mere mining exploitation. He envisions Simandou as an economic platform, not an isolated project. The minister also raised questions about the type of productive economy that will emerge once major construction projects are completed. To achieve this, Nabé proposed establishing an "Africa Jobs, Skills & Investment Delivery Compact" to bring together governments, the African Union, development financial institutions, the private sector, and technology actors around clearly identified projects.
The proposed compact would focus on identifying projects, determining necessary skills, structuring financing, and measuring results. Guinea plans to contribute to this effort by identifying an initial portfolio of investments linked to Simandou 2040, accompanied by plans for employment, skills, local content, and financing. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between economic potential and tangible outcomes in Africa.
The Labour African Network's High-Level Breakfast Dialogue provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Africa's next generation. The event highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to address the continent's skills gap, job creation, and investment needs. By working together, participants aim to create a brighter future for Africa's youth.
Ismaël Nabé's call to action resonates with the goals of the United Nations General Assembly, which emphasizes sustainable development, economic growth, and social progress. By leveraging Africa's economic potential, the continent can unlock new opportunities for its youth and drive long-term prosperity. The proposed "Africa Jobs, Skills & Investment Delivery Compact" offers a promising framework for achieving these objectives.
As the international community continues to address global challenges, initiatives like the "Africa Jobs, Skills & Investment Delivery Compact" demonstrate the commitment to harnessing Africa's potential for the benefit of its people. By transforming economic potential into tangible outcomes, Africa can create a brighter future for its next generation and contribute to global sustainable development.
Key points
- Ismaël Nabé calls for transforming Africa's economic potential into jobs, skills, and investments.
- The proposed "Africa Jobs, Skills & Investment Delivery Compact" aims to bring together stakeholders to address Africa's skills gap, job creation, and investment needs.
- Guinea's Simandou 2040 initiative seeks to go beyond mining exploitation and become an economic platform.
