The African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, joined the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Taye Atske, this morning to address the inaugural meeting of the Africa–China Entrepreneurs Meeting (CAES).
The high-level forum serves as a strategic platform to bridge business leaders from both regions and institutionalize economic cooperation.
The meeting featured a distinguished assembly of stakeholders, including the Ambassador of China to Ethiopia and the African Union, H.E. Jiang Feng, alongside representatives from the China Chamber of Commerce. The gathering focused on translating decades of diplomatic ties into tangible commercial ventures and shared prosperity.
Africa as the Global Growth Engine
Delivering his address, Chairperson Youssouf positioned Africa as the indispensable future engine of global growth. He pointed to the continent’s youthful population and vast untapped potential as the primary drivers of this inevitable economic rise. He emphasized that for Africa to achieve its developmental milestones, it must prioritize trade, private sector dynamism, and entrepreneurship as the core pillars of continental integration.
“Africa is the future engine of global growth,” the Chairperson stated, underscoring that the energy of the continent’s youth is the key to unlocking its industrial future.
Learning from China’s Transformation
Reflecting on over twenty years of strategic partnership through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Chairperson Youssouf called for a shift toward deeper, more technical cooperation. He urged African nations to draw critical lessons from China’s agricultural and industrial transformation to accelerate local productivity.
He specifically advocated for increased Chinese investment and the creation of joint value chains that would allow African products to move from raw materials to finished goods. This, he noted, is essential for ensuring that the partnership remains mutually beneficial and sustainable in the long term.
Empowering Women and Youth Entrepreneurs
A central theme of the forum was the institutionalization of the China-Africa Entrepreneurship Alliance. The Chairperson called for the alliance to provide dedicated support for youth and women entrepreneurs, ensuring they have the resources to compete in the global marketplace.
In his closing remarks, he tasked the forum with moving beyond dialogue to ensure concrete, measurable outcomes. The goal, according to the Chairperson, is to create a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters innovation and delivers real economic impact for citizens across both Africa and China.
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