Your Excellencies,
                           
Let me extend a warm welcome to you all.
 
We are truly pleased to host you in your second home, South Africa.

More than a decade ago, visionary leaders of our continent produced the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

NEPAD was conceived in an era of a marginalised Africa, which was beset with political instability, economic challenges and Afro-pessimism. Additionally, for a long time, relationships with Africa were based on pity and reliance on aid from donors who insisted on difficult conditions. 

Despite all these obstacles, Africans kept the flame of hope alive for a future of prosperity and economic and social justice. And indeed we are steadily making progress, and NEPAD has kept the dreams and potential of our continent alive. The continent is now reaping the benefits of responsible macro-economic management and deepening integration into the world economy. 
 
We continue to celebrate the fact that a number of the fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa. More people are being liberated from the shackles of poverty, and more children are recipients of the right to education.  Our institutions and democracies are much stronger today - generating optimism, high expectations and unleashing our enormous potential.

However, we must concede that challenges do persist. Poverty remains a key challenge and the widespread unemployment, especially among the youth, contributes to persistent inequality.

Climate change also poses a growing threat to long-term development.

However, Your Excellencies, there is a huge difference from what Africa was decades ago because we now have the confidence to confront these challenges head on. We have a commitment to address them on our terms.

To succeed, we must harness all our potential. No country will achieve prosperity on its own. We have one future and a shared destiny.

That is why we are investing so much time and money in the infrastructure programme, regional integration and intra-trade because we want to achieve sustainable growth and development.

We must also come to terms with the need to harness the capacity and talent of women in our continent. We are thus pleased that the focus of our deliberations today is “NEPAD’s Role in the Renewal of Africa’s Regional Integration: REC’s Capacity and Women Economic Empowerment”.
 
We look forward to constructive deliberations on these vital issues, Chairperson and Excellencies. 
 
I thank you.