PM Abiy calls for increased infrastructure connectivity among African countries
Addis Ababa, February 17, 2024 (FBC) – Addressing the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) said that Africa is striving to build digital economy.
“Majority on the continent has phones and mobile data is rapidly growing. We are starting to produce large datasets that the AI system requires to allow us to learn, make predictions, and inform our policies and act,”
Having a robust pan -African data governance strategy aligned with the principles of Agenda 2063 will boost the continent’s competitiveness, ensure productive cross -border data flow and protect individual rights, the Premier underscored.
“In addition, increasing infrastructure connectivity between our countries by building roads, airports, ports, rail networks, pipelines and communication networks will link communities, increase trade and enable economic integration,”
The Prime Minister further stressed the need to secure peace and stability calling this the foundation for economic and social development.
“Ethiopia firmly believes that regional and continental integration is the best way to help our country and the continent at large,” he noted.
He also pointed out that it is important to diversify continent’s economies, ensure peaceful coexistence among neighbors, and work together for common goals.
African needs strong regional and continental platforms where national development challenges from a geographical, logistics, and security perspective are taken into consideration, he underscored.
The Prime Minister further expressed gratitude to the outgoing African Union Chairperson, President Azali Asumani, for his leadership and representing the organization on the global stage.