Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 November 2024 (ECA) – The 2024 Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a clarion call for key players to leverage transformative financing and regional integration for sustainable development of the infrastructure sector.
Participants agreed that greater economic activity, enhanced efficiency and increased competitiveness on the continent were continually being hampered by inadequate transport, communication, water and power infrastructure.
“Inadequate infrastructure increases the continent’s production and transaction costs, which reduces its competitiveness in the global market,” said Claver Gatete, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Mr. Gatete further noted that Africa’s infrastructure deficit lowers its per capita economic growth by 2% a year and reduces the productivity of its firms by as much as 40%.
The African Union Chairperson, Moussa Faki said PIDA Week is an important platform to evaluate achievements and challenges the continent is facing in infrastructure development and to plan for the future.
Taye Selassie, The President of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, emphasised Ethiopia’s continued support of the PIDA.
Amani Zeid, the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy mentioned that PIDA has played a significant role in Africa's digital transformation, with several countries on the continent achieving digital connectivity via optical fiber cables.
Through PID he said, nearly 30 million people in Africa have gained access to electricity, more than 16,000 km of roads and 4,000 km of railway lines have been developed across the continent.
“It is critical to mobilize the estimated US$160.8 billion required to implement PIDA projects from internal and external sources of finance”, noted Mr. Gatete.
“National ownership will empower ECA and other regional and continental organisations to contribute effectively to resource mobilization efforts.”
About PIDA
The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is the strategic framework of the African Union for the development of regional and continental infrastructure. It serves as a benchmark for the continental infrastructure development agenda, policies, and investment priorities. It facilitates the physical, economic, and social integration of the continent in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and provides a framework for engagement with Africa's development partners on the provision of regional and continental infrastructure.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org