CONCEPT NOTE Africa Industrialization Day 2012 Accelerating Industrialization for Boosting Intra-Africa Trade 5 December 2012 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1. INTRODUCTION During the 25th General Session of the Assembly of the Organization of African Unity held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July, 1989 it was declared that the Africa Industrialization Day will be celebrated each year on November 20th. Similarly, on December 22, 1989, the UN General Assembly also in resolution (A/44/237) declared this date as Africa Industrialization Day. Since 1990, the Africa Industrialization Day is yearly commemorated on the 20 th of November. This is a time when governments and other bodies in many African countries assess ways to refine Africa's industrialization process. It is also an occasion to attract African and worldwide media attention to the challenges of industrialization in Africa. The Day is chosen to mobilize the commitment of the international community to support productivity, competitiveness and sustainable industrialization of Africa. It also reminds that more than two-third of the world's 48 least developed countries are part of the African continent. This year s event will be jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in cooperation with the Ethiopian Ministry of Industry, on 5 December 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of the Africa industrialization Day (AID) 2012 is "Accelerating Industrialization for Boosting Intra-Africa Trade" as decided by the last Conference of African Ministers of Industry Bureau meeting held in June 2012. Various events are held on the occasion of Africa Industrialization Day. Many of these involve local and national leaders and representatives of international non-governmental bodies. A special effort is made to mobilize leaders and representatives of many African countries to promote industrialization as an engine of Africa s economic growth and appraise the development achieved in the previous years. UNIDO plays a vital role in assisting African governments, in partnership with key development actors, to design the industrial development policy and related programmes and to highlight the importance of the industrial sector for the sustainable development of Africa as well as to coordinate Africa s Industrialization Day activities. UNIDO aims at reducing poverty by strengthening the industry sector to support economic growth. Most of the recent achievements in poverty reduction have been a consequence of the intensification of trade and industrialization. Through this focus, UNIDO also aims at providing developing countries and countries in transition with the effective capacity to produce and substantially export their manufactured products, while enhancing at the same time their domestic market. 2
As Dr. Yumkella, UNIDO Director General, stated We have enjoyed and celebrated some success in terms of development, industrialization and commercialization but a major portion of our earth is still far from benefiting from these achievements. We need to provide support and assistance to bring all those countries in the mainstream. 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE AID 2012 To celebrate the AID 2012, a Conference will be jointly organized by the AUC, UNIDO and ECA. The specific objectives of the conference are to: (i) (ii) (iii) Enhance awareness and stimulate the political commitment of African Governments, other African organizations and their partners on the need to stress African productive Industrialization as a critical vehicle of economic diversification and transformation for the continent; Mobilize African and worldwide media attention to the challenges and strategic responses to industrialization in Africa; Provide a forum for Business-to-Business linkages among stakeholders, particularly the private sector companies attending the event, and in particular, promote innovative investments to achieve win-win collaboration between African companies and those from developed countries as well as emerging economies. 3. FORMAT OF THE AID 2012 The African Industrialization Day 2012 structure is designed to provide a platform for participants to engage in a dialogue priority thematic issues in the plenary sessions and to have more interactive and sector-based discussions in breakout sessions that will provide a good opportunity for establishing business networks, as one of the outcomes of the celebration. The Event will involve a combination of Plenary Sessions in the morning and breakout discussions in the afternoon, as well as a parallel exhibition for the private sector, which will run throughout the day. Each Plenary Session will have a number of renowned speakers. An opportunity will be given to participants to exchange views through an interactive session on innovation to tackle industrialization challenges and responses in Africa. The Breakout Sessions on sector-based issues will also involve exchanges between experts and stakeholders as well as businessmen participating in the event. This will also provide an open and dynamic occasion to exchange experience on best industrial development practices and innovation within a soft business, attracting all forum participants. 4. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE AID 2012 The expected outcomes of the AID 2012 are as follows: 3
(i) Significant industrial benefits are highlighted and innovative solutions for economic diversification and manufacturing strategies as a meaningful way of boosting intra- Africa trade are provided; (ii) Cooperation within Africa in industrial development, especially enhancing linkages between emerging African economies are promoted; (iii) The informal Business-to-Business forum is used to enhance visibility and exposure of African companies innovating in some designated sectors. This exposure and interaction between African and international business leaders is geared towards generating concrete networking platforms to create joint ventures, partnerships and promote business collaborations. 5. PROGRAMME Proposed Agenda of the Africa International Day 6. ORGANIZERS The Africa Industrialization Day 2012 is jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in cooperation with the Ethiopian Ministry of Industry. Within the AUC, the Department of Trade and Industry is coordinating this conference together with the UNIDO Regional Office in Ethiopia and the Economic Development and NEPAD support Division of ECA. 7. PARTICIPATION Ministry of Industry of Ethiopia and of East-Central African countries; Experts and Senior Officials on Trade and Industry; Representatives of AU, UNECA, UNIDO, UNDP, FAO, UNCTAD, UNEP, ILO, IOM; High level representatives from the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) and from Regional Development Banks. Private sector companies operating in the industrial development sector from the Eastern and Central Africa Regions and from outside Africa, in particular those mobilized by the EU and other development partners. 8. DATE: 5 December 2012 9. VENUE: The AID 2012 will be held at the African Union Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 10. LANGUAGES: English and French with simultaneous interpretation 4
11. REGISTRATION Participants are required to send back their completed registration forms no later than Monday 26 NOVEMBER 2012 to: African Union Commission (AUC), Department of Trade and Industry (iochem@uneca.org and genetg@africa-union.org or Fax to: +251 11 5182970. 12. LOGISTIC AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS Travel and DSA: The AUC will cover the costs of invited Speakers/Panelists and 5 nominated delegates from each East and Central African country. An economy round trip air ticket, based on the most direct and/or economic route, as well as a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) at the current UN rate will be provided to cover accommodation and sundry expenses for a maximum of three nights. Upon registration, the AUC will make a booking and an electronic ticket will be issued through their travel agency. Sponsored participants should not purchase their own tickets unless expressly authorized to do so. Visas: Visas are required for all participants travelling to Ethiopia, except for nationals of Djibouti and Kenya. Participants from countries that have Ethiopian Diplomatic Missions are required by the Ethiopian immigration authorities to secure their visas from those missions. Formal Invitation Letters will be sent to participants upon receipt of completed registration forms for visa purposes. If your country does not have an Ethiopian Diplomatic Mission, the AID organisers will assist you in obtaining a visa upon arrival, subject to prior submission of complete passport details and flight information (refer to registration form). (Please note that an Ethiopian visa costs USD 20 per person and payment must be made at the time of issue by participants. Holders of diplomatic and service passports as well as United Nations Laissez-Passer will receive visas gratis. Expenses incurred in connection with visa requirements are paid in US dollars. No other currency is accepted). Accommodation: Participants are expected to cover their accommodation expenses. A select list of hotels (with preferential UN rates) is available on the registration form. At your request, accommodation can be reserved in one of these hotels, provided the Organisers receive your request early. Interested participants should therefore indicate choice of hotel upon confirmation of their attendance. All hotel expenses must be settled directly to the hotel before checkout. Local transportation: Participants will arrive at Bole International Airport, which is located just 5 kilometres from the centre of Addis Ababa. An airport/hotel transfer can be provided where travel details are made available to the Organizers. Bus transfers will be arranged from selected hotels to the African Union Conference Centre and back on 5 December 2012 at designated times. Other costs and exclusion of liability 5
Participants will be responsible for costs of travel and all other expenses incidental to travel abroad incurred in the home country, e.g. passports, visas, required medical examinations, inoculations and other such miscellaneous expenditures, as well as internal travel to and from the airport of departure in the home country. AUC will not assume responsibility for any of the following costs, which may be incurred by the participant in connection with attendance of the conference. All expenses in the home country incidental to travel abroad, including expenditures for passports, visas, and other miscellaneous items, as well as internal travel to and from the airport of departure in the home country; Salary and social benefits for the participants during the period of the conference; Costs incurred by participants with respect to any insurance, medical bills, and hospitalization fees; Compensation in the event of death, disability or illness; Loss or damage to personal property; Purchase of personal belongings and compensation for damage caused to them by climatic or other conditions; Costs incurred by the participant with respect to travel other than the costs of airfare and daily subsistence allowance as explained above; Travel and any other costs incurred by dependants who might accompany the participants. 13. CONTACT PERSONS AUC 1. Mr. Ayoup Zaid Elrashdi, Senior Policy Officer Industry, African Union Commission, P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: +251 11 551 0917 Ext 365. Fax: +251 11 551 046. Email: ayoupzaid@africa-union.org UNIDO 2. Mr. Hussein Hassan Hussein, Head of Industry, African Union Commission, P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: +251 11 Fax: +251 11 551 046. Email: husseinh@africa-union.org 3. Dr. Dauda Foday Suma, Policy Officer Industry, African Union Commission, P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: +251 11 551 7700 Ext 161, Fax: +251 11 551 046, Email: sumad@africa-union.org 1. Ms. Kawira Bucyana, UNIDO Industrial Development Officer, Regional Office in Ethiopia, P.O. Box 5580, Africa Hall (old ECA Building), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: +251-115-514-245 or +251-115-444-013, Fax: +251 11 5512733, Email: K.Bucyana@unido.org 2. Ms. Elisa Sabbion, Junior Professional Officer UNIDO, P.O. Box 5580, Africa Hall (old ECA Building), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P.O. Box 5580 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: +251 11 544 4014 or Mob: +251 92 2337991, Fax: +251 11 5512733. Email: elisa.sabbion@unido.org 6