"Participation Builds Unity"
"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"
"Participation Builds Unity"
"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"
PRESENTS
COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
BUSINESS ACTION FOR AFRICA CONFERENCE
CONCLUDING STATEMENT BY
DR. MOHAN KAUL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
COMMONWEALTH BUSINESS COUNCIL
05 APRIL 2005
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Business Action for Africa Conference
The Business Action for Africa conference brought together over 250 senior business representatives
from G8 countries and from Africa, and formulated specific action plans, which will form the core of a
Business Action Plan for Africa.
Principles and Priorities
The Commission for Africa report provides a framework for this new attitude towards Africa.
As this conference makes clear, the private sector which really knows Africa, because it lives or
operates there, is optimistic. Why? Because, not withstanding deeply-rooted poverty in many areas,
a sea change in economic and political governance has begun in many countries, with real
improvement in macro-economic stability and growth. News of this change is lagging behind,
crowded out by continuing bad news stories. But it is clear that where democracy and market
economies are growing stronger, poverty is in retreat.
Given a fair chance, fair trade and good government, Africans can transform their economic and
social prospects. This message is fundamentally important, as is the fact that Africans themselves
are leading this change - as demonstrated by the African Union’s NEPAD programme.
But to achieve this requires practical action:
Today’s process is a culmination of activities and work undertaken over many months. Good
cooperation has also been developed with large numbers of African business leaders and
associations. It is a good foundation but we need to do more.
The Business Contact Group will now reach out through partnership activities to develop an umbrella
for a private sector-led campaign to mobilise business in support of Africa. The immediate focus
should be to build on the momentum of CfA, to establish by Gleneagles a “Business Action Plan for
Africa”, tailored to individual circumstances, and supported by the widest possible base of business.
Based on the work done so far the components of the Action Plan would require commitments in five
areas:
1. Business Making a Difference
2. Advocacy
3. Communication and Perception
4. Corporate Responsibility and Conduct
5. Partnerships and Way of Working
As an immediate step, we will be establishing a website with this statement and action plans, and be
consulting further with the African business organisations. We also plan detailed discussions with the
World Economic Forum, the Corporate Council on Africa, the Canadian Council for Africa, and the
Private Investors in Africa, as well as the Business Council Europe Africa Mediterranean and others
who will be discussing the Commission for Africa report before Gleneagles. We will be holding a
summit event in London with African leaders on the day before the G8 Summit when we will formally
inaugurate the Action Plan.
May I in closing thank on your behalf again all the speakers and presenters, as well as CBC’s
partners in this event, Shell and the Commission for Africa, and thank the companies which made
financial contributions: Anglo American, British American Tobacco, CDC, Crown Agents,
DentonWildeSapte, GSK, Rio Tinto and Standard Chartered. I should also like to say particular
thanks to our colleagues who have travelled from the business organisations in Africa, North America
and Europe without whose participation this meeting would not have been a success. We thank you
all.
* This statement will be issued in an edited form as the base document for the Business
Action for Africa
We would like to express our gratitude towards Steve GODFREY from the Commonwealth Business Council!
Concluding Statement*
Delivered by Dr Mohan Kaul, CEO,
Commonwealth Business Council
5 th April 2005
The job of business is to produce efficiently those goods and services which society needs, in doing
so to make profits, and to create employment, income and wealth. Getting the conditions right for
doing business in Africa is the single best investment for the future well-being of its citizens. This is
not a task which government and business can achieve alone. It requires political will, cooperation,
and a commitment to create an entrepreneurial culture. Aid alone will not generate growth. A vibrant
and successful private sector – farmers and firms large and small – is required.
•The G8 must create a more favourable trade regime for Africa, in particular remove tariffs,
eliminate indefensible agricultural subsidies, and simplify rules of origin which together do so
much harm.
•African governments need to strengthen and improve governance, creating societies based on
the rule of law, working to eliminate corruption and improve the investment climate for all.
•New aid investment for improved infrastructure, health and education should go to countries
serious about improving their governance and enabling the poor to participate in and benefit
from development.
Business Action Plan for Africa
The private sector needs to increase its commitments to socially responsible business practice, and
reinforce the international efforts to support Africa’s new development strategy. The case was made
today that business has to become a locomotive for change, and everyone has an opportunity and a
responsibility to speak in favour of the reforms required to bring about growth. This conference heard
strong statements from senior business leaders who committed to make an exceptional effort to
support Africa’s development.
•Extending the impact of core business activities through new initiative such as:
o setting up the new private sector-led NEPAD Investment Climate Facility to improve the
business climate
o introducing new approaches to SME support through supply chains, and providing them
with business opportunities, or with skills/finance/technology and support efforts to
tackle youth unemployment
o backing practical initiatives in education, health and HIV/AIDs which mobilise the
expertise and resources of the private sector can help.
•Business leaders should commit to active public policy engagement in favour of:
o trade reform - ensuring that the rich countries meet their commitments under the G8
Action Plan, WTO reforms and in removing barriers to growth caused by unfair trade
o improved governance - working with national governments to encourage reform,
investment climates, and policies to help poor people. Key issues are better customs
systems, access to credit, improved infrastructure and agricultural support.
•Helping to tackle the negative perceptions of Africa by actively communicating successful
business and investment stories, and working with international and Africa media to get these
stories across. There is a need to engage business audiences to help create a balanced and
accurate picture of the many different countries and regions in the continent.
•Companies should sign leading codes of good social and environmental conduct, including on
transparency and corruption, e.g. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, UN Global
Compact, OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises, the Global Reporting Initiative, and
OECD Bribery Convention. The private sector should never condone corruption, and
corporate governance principles should clearly identify and punish malpractice.
•The Business Contact Group has shown that it is possible to forge new working relationships.
Business is already increasing the impact of efforts by joining together with donors,
governments and civil society. e.g. Support for Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS and organisations which assist in this area.
The Diaspora and NGO community can also be important allies.
Companies and business associations will thus be asked to commit to the Business Action Plan for
Africa and set out how their company’s policies and plans will support the goals. The Business
Action Plan for Africa is not set in stone but an invitation to our peers and colleagues who cannot be
here today, to join the campaign in the weeks ahead as we run up to the crucial meeting of G8 Heads
in Gleneagles in July, and to the real work which will begin after it.
Also see:
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FOR AFRICA
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