President Kenyatta with Kenyan officials at the AU summit in Addis Ababa/PPS
He said this will stimulate greater African social-economic integration and achieve the African aspiration for renewal and renaissance.
President Kenyatta observed that to attain this great dream, African states must also avail the requisite resources to the African Union Commission to enable it implement programmes that promote peace and advance development of the continent.
Making his inaugural speech during the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Kenyatta further asked member states to successfully utilize the youthful and energetic population of the continent to spur greater development.
“We must invest in our youth and fulfil our obligation of removing all impediments to our citizen’s self-development to enable them realize their aspirations. Our national resources must be utilized for the benefit of our people. Our borders should no longer be barriers but bridges to seamless socio-economic interactions that drive integration,” said the president.
President Kenyatta said he was convinced that an important key to the African aspiration lies in accelerated integration, enhanced trade, particularly intra-Africa trade, investment and creation of a web of infrastructural networks that link the continent and facilitate productive activities.
“Kenya remains keen to implement, in full, all AU programs in these areas, and in particular on agriculture, regional infrastructure and negotiations that improve trade relations with our partners such as AGOA and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)”, President Kenyatta said.
He pointed out that by building on the current growth momentum and transformation in Africa, the continent could become a world leader in economic development, social progress and political enlightenment.
He said in such a scenario, African economies would be intertwined by a seamless infrastructure interconnecting all countries where their people travel, work and live anywhere on the continent unhindered.
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