African Investment Forum kicks off in Algeria

Some 40 African countries are taking part in the African Investment and Business Forum which kicked off on Saturday evening in the Algerian capital of Algiers.

The three-day meeting is attended by some 1,000 African businessmen, politicians and financial officials to discuss ways of boosting the continent's economy.

In the opening remarks, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said Africa should invest on its own potential skills and entrepreneurship in a bid to achieve qualitative development.

"It is time for Africa to raise as an international power and essential block on both political and economical fronts," Sellal said. "It is time to tell the world that Africa is no more a mere reservoir of raw materials; but rather a continent for the future."

He further urged Africans to work harder to fight the weaknesses hindering the continent's economy, saying "it is imperative to tackle these weakness factors and make the economy more resilient to maintain vigorous growth, to sustain progress in the fight against poverty and to reach development objectives."

The Algerian official also recommended addressing the factors of terrorism, illegal migration, crime and poverty, through real socio-economic development programs all over the continent.

The forum aims at boosting industrial partnership among African countries, given that some nations have made tremendous progress in the field of new technologies, energy and mining industry.

The participants are due to discuss six main topics, namely strategic economic visions of African countries, energy and investments financing, infrastructures, agriculture and agri-food. Endit