MASS MAIL 25 APRIL 2005 - COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA
"Participation Builds Unity"

"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"

FDA NEWSLETTER

MASS MAIL
25 APRIL 2005
COMMISSION FOR AFRICA - RECOMMENDATIONS
BUSINESS AND NEPAD - WHERE TO NOW?
(All)

**********************************

The FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA proudly presents you with the following information that may add value to Africa's development. Please direct any correspondence to: info@isupportafrica.com

COMMISSION FOR AFRICA - RECOMMENDATIONS
BUSINESS AND NEPAD - WHERE TO NOW?

COMMISSION FOR AFRICA - RECOMMENDATIONS
I have just published the final report, released by the Tony BLAIR 'inspired' COMMISSION FOR AFRICA, on our website!

Following months of deliberations, ensuring a process of participation through workshops held in South Africa; Cameroon; Ghana and Tanzania during 2004 and 2005, Steve Godfrey, Managing Director Commonwealth Business Council Consulting and his team truly captured the essence of Africa's current situation and what is now required.

This document will provide a valuable tool for Tony BLAIR during his term as head of the G8 - hopefully this document will also form part of the NEPAD Secretariat's implementation programme - something somewhat lacking or just not communicated!

Herewith two recommendations with regard PARTICIPATION - something the FDA has been pleading for:

Poor people's participation in growth
Developed countries should set up a US$100 million Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund to support private sector initiatives that contribute to small enterprise development by giving them better access to markets. The Fund will encourage new partnerships in the financial and non-financial sectors and contribute to the African Union's objectives of promoting job creation for young people and women's entrepreneurship. African governments must take the lead in promoting employment for young people, both women and men, in their policies for growth. Donors should assist African governments in formulating and implementing national action plans on employment through the Youth Employment Network, as endorsed by the African Union.

Promoting the role of business
The Commission calls for a sea change in the way the business community, both domestic and international, engages in the development process in Africa. Businesses must sign up to leading codes of good social and environmental conduct, including on corruption and transparency, and focus their efforts on co-ordinated action to tackle poverty - working in partnership with each other, with donors, with national governments, and with civil society, including trades unions. In support of this, developed countries should support the UNDP Growing Sustainable Business initiative in the region. For their part, donors and African governments must develop more effective partnerships with the private sector.

For a full report see: http://www.foundation-development-africa.org/africa_development/commission_africa/index.htm

BUSINESS AND NEPAD - WHERE TO NOW?
Since the launch of the NEPAD initiative in 2002, has business been in search of ways on how to interact with the NEPAD Secretariat.

A number of private sector initiatives such as ABR - African Business Roundtable - Tukur - Nigeria; NBG - Nepad Business Group (Continental) - Tukur - Nigeria and the NBG - Nepad Business Group (Southern Africa) - Khoza - South Africa, have emerged - all 'endorsed' by NEPAD Secretariat. These initiatives have yet to deliver anything substantial that will allow ALL of Africa's business to 'interact' and 'participate' in Africa's development.

When the FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA approached the NEPAD Secretariat, in February 2002, to identify ways of participating in NEPAD initiatives and for NEPAD endorsement, we were told "not to reinvent the wheel - join the ABR - African Business Roundtable"

At that time the ABR - African Business Roundtable insisted on around US$ 5000.00 per annum for a membership fee! This exclusive, NEPAD endorsed, "Business Club" was only available to a very select few, eliminating 99.9% of African business to participate in the NEPAD initiative.

However - a number of 'select' businesses have been 'interacting' and 'participating' in select NEPAD approved projects - these 'elite businesses' have been exclusively 'selected' to participate in the elusive NEPAD INDUSTRY SECTORS, established by the Nepad Business Group (Southern Africa). Very little or no information is readily available on the projects being implemented.

Now the Nepad Business Group (Southern Africa) is structuring the NEPAD BUSINESS FOUNDATION - This initiative is to be launched at the World Economic Forum to be held in Cape Town in June 2005.

More news for Africa business is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Business Forum which was formed last year will assist in launching a continent-wide African Chambers of Commerce and Industries - also to be launched in June at the World Economic Forum.

For more information on this see:
http://www.foundation-development-africa.org/africa_development/nepad/nepad_business_foundation/index.htm

How many wheels are being created never mind re-invented?

Take care

COMMENTS RECEIVED

03 May 2005

Sir
We have studied your e-mail with interest and have great respect for your effort to bring business and ideas together in a practical plan that would:
a.. create development
b.. create jobs
c.. create wealth
We should focus on our strengths, exploit them and build on successes, that will create a domino effect - with good return on Investment Capital will flow towards success.

To call for funds from developing countries to set up a fund of $100 million without the foundation of projects researched, and with a facilitation "call it" Consulting Developers, the individuals, firms, Governments will find reasons to delay or side-track.

The idea to tackle poverty must be abadoned. Darkness exist, light is being created. Wealth creation plans must be engineered. Creation of wealth is the opposite of expecting hand-outs (funds) to be recovered and distributed leaving only a few people rich for time being.

Creating wealth starts in the heart of man, realising that if you are looking for a helping hand, it can be found at the end of your arm. The process of creating wealth should include developing, changing the foundation of the way people think. Open the doors for them in order to make a living, and soon new doors will be opened in their minds.

The problem with poverty is that it is so deeply settled in most of the cultures, that it is far-fetched to expect a highly productive community which will get rich.

This is the exact same problem White Afrikaner people have settled in them.
It remains a problem for those who are still in safe Government employed jobs as sson as they are to be thrown in at the deep end of a self-generating income business.

It is therefore understandable that the Foundation for the Development of Africa will promote the already excisting or the best possible projects. This could render the fastest dividend to proof success for the NEPAD inisiative.

For the question of the growth of poor people, we have to be smart in order to get a slice of the cake. Around this concept we have to generate ground projects / starting-up projects that will need only a small initial capital input, but has a high profit margin, enabling the small businessman to make a start. This is sure to give him back his sense of worth and self-respect.

We at Versatex-Invesco have been part of thousands of sustainable job creations. The majority of these jobs were created for black people in rural areas.

Just a thought or two for now.
Sincerely
Fred F. Kolbé

***********************************

BACK TO
FDA NEWLETTER
INDEX PAGE COMMENT?
SEND US AN
EMAIL BACK TO
FDA MAIN INDEX
FRONT PAGE

**********************************