Thursday, May 23, 2013

African Union 50th Anniversary

 On behalf of the Smart Partnership Movement, we would like to extend our best wishes to the African Union on this special day, which marks the fiftieth anniversary of its establishment. From its opening conference in Addis Ababa in 1963, the Organisation of African Unity sought to deepen co-operation and understanding amongst its members in order to improve the lives of Af­ricans across the continent. The African Union has carried on these aims, seeking to promote “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”.

The longevity and continuing influence of the African Union are achievements that resonate strongly with the Smart Partnership Movement, which has always strived to support the Union, and Africa as a whole, in its aims. Since the “Smart Partnership for the Generation of Wealth in
Southern Africa” Dialogue in Kasane, Botswana in 1997, African nations have played increasingly prominent roles in this truly progressive movement. Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Uganda, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zambia have all hosted Dialogues in the intervening years.

These Dialogues are unique opportunities for Smart Partners to share the benefits of their knowl­edge, experience and skills while leaving behind the constituencies and commitments which can stand in the way of uncluttered, impartial and imaginative thinking. His Excellency Dr Yoweri Ka­guta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and current Chair of the Smart Partnership Movement, believes Smart Partnership is the only place he knows where people can think and talk independently.
The problem is we are always rushing all the time… CPTM is a caucus for informal think-tanking for new ideas.”

One such new idea is the African Peace Hub, developed at the Global Dialogue in Munyonyo, Uganda in 2009. The African Peace Hub is designed to be the fulcrum of a virtuous wheel of peaceful and sustainable development across the continent, supported by the body of experience developed and held within the centre. The African Peace Hub was officially inaugurated at the opening of the African Union Summit in Munyonyo in 2010.

In 2013, the “Year of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance”, we are delighted that Tanzania will join the list of Smart Partnership Dialogue host nations. In selecting the theme for the Dia­logue, “Leveraging Technology for African Socio-Economic Transformation”, His Excellency Ja­kaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and CPTM Fellow, has chosen a topic at the very heart of the Smart Partnership Movement. Smart Partnership is about creating limitless opportunities and wealth that is shared, sustainable and resilient and that allows the par­ticipants to function in the global economy. Its successful functioning depends on a mutually bene­ficial and ‘prosper thy neighbour’ relationship among ‘Partners’, who believe that the application of technology can support sustainable development and greatly improve socio-economic conditions across the world.
As well as being the collection of devices, components and engineering practices in a given con­text, technology is also a means to fulfill a human purpose. Technology Inclusiveness refers to policy frameworks and approaches for using Innovation to foster ‘inclusive growth’, not only strong growth, but ‘resilient and smart growth’. This approach requires synchronisation, joined up think­ing and action with measures to support new entrants with riskier projects in advanced materials, nanotechnology, information and communication technologies, super computers, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. Tapping into the vast array of technologies now available enables countries to develop new activities or modernize existing ones, and to increase the competitive­ness of agriculture, industry and services. Education and communication are vital if these new elements are to be accepted and practiced by citizens, leading to positive economic and societal developments. Technology also facilitates the production and deployment of renewable energies and “green” technologies, supporting energy and water efficiency or enabling more efficient health services.
The Smart Partnership Movement prides itself on facilitating the exchange of experience, bench­marking and dialogue, which is particularly relevant to the theme of its Global 2013 Dialogue. The engagement and interactions between members of the public, private and civil spheres within the Movement over the past three years have produced three specific inclusion initiatives that con­tribute to socio-economic transformation and will be key features of the Dialogue in June. Innova­tion is not only about the transfer and deployment of new technologies. Technology management should be integrated into the National Vision and objectives of the people it is designed to serve and a mixture of traditional and modern means is often the most fitting way of turning these visions
into reality. Such innovation plays a key role in Smart Partnership’s continuing support of National Visions in Botswana, Cameroon, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swa­ziland and Uganda, among others. These innovative solutions must also abide by international standards, with customer care and awareness as well as quality management integral to sustained success. Adherence to such standards also enables a greater market access and consequently contributes to economic development. Financial inclusion is also vital, covering both the financing of SMEs and encouraging entrepreneurship as well as the optimal use of growing financial re­sources derived from natural resources and raw materials to develop infrastructure, support edu­cation, improve social welfare and invest in local projects.
The Smart Partnership Movement looks forward to supporting the African Union’s valuable work achieving its vision of a prosperous Africa over the next fifty years and beyond.
May 2013
CPTM Smart Partners’ Hub, London

SMART PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT
Council of Patrons & Advisers
Chair of the Smart Partnership Movement and Host Patron & Adviser of Uganda (Global ‘09) to­gether with Heads of State/Government from Malaysia, Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, as well as Ghana & Barbados

HOST PATRON & ADVISER
GLOBAL 2013
H.E.  Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
President of United Republic of Tanzania; CPTM Fellow

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