Page 14 - Issue 68
P. 14
ELITE VOL 1, ISSUE 68
ELITE
Ambassador Nader Fath El-Alim started by He then continued his discussion on
thanking the attendees and then took the agricultural programs, which aim to
audience on a journey discussing the prevent the export of raw African materials
practical side of implementing the agenda. and instead use them for manufacturing.
He explained the seven aspirations of the Africa produces sixty-five percent of the
agenda and stated that it was built on two world's raw cocoa but does not produce
key principles: helping African countries chocolate, produces more than seventy
emerge from colonialism and achieving percent of rubber but does not make tires,
minimal economic integration. The and produces over eighty percent of Arabic
Economic Community of West African gum, which is used in more than ninety
States (ECOWAS) helping to implement percent of industries worldwide, yet Africa
free trade effectively. He also emphasized lacks its own industries. He added that the
the importance of avoiding Western- longevity of nations is not measured in
imposed terms, such as "sub-Saharan" and years but in generations; ten years mean
"North of the Sahara," stating that Africa is nothing. The Africa we want extends to
one entity and should be treated as such. 2063 for two reasons: the first is the youth,
One of the goals of the 2018 agenda was as the agenda relies on them for its
freedom of movement, with the ambition to implementation, and strengthening the
achieve a unified African passport that youth is one of the strongest programs.
would allow its holders to enter many The second reason is advocating for
African countries without a visa, which is women, as women are the backbone of this
part of the African integration programs. continent. He ended his speech by wishing
One of the key goals of the agenda in 2018 us a successful journey with Africa, one
was the freedom of movement, with the that will not end until the desired hopes are
ambition to create a unified African achieved.
passport that would allow its holders to Dr. Hala then opened the floor for
travel freely across many African countries questions, and one of the main questions
without a visa. He also discussed good was about whether there are internships for
governance and democracy, as well as the youth in the African Union. The question
imposition of sanctions on countries that was answered by the Ambassador, who
violate constitutional systems, such as pointed out that there is indeed a program
through unconstitutional changes. for youth called "Youth Volunteer," but it
is for graduates, not students. When asked
why, despite having raw materials, Africa
does not produce, Ambassador Nader
Fath Al-Aleem responded that Africa does
produce, but it lacks the production
mechanisms that would lead the continent
to prosperity. Additionally, it cannot
produce with the same quality as Western
countries, and he called for encouraging
African-made products. Dr. Hala El-
Rashidi then thanked the attendees and
concluded the session.
