The German G8 Presidency believes that Official Development Assistance (ODA) and debt relief alone will not suffice to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa. Economic growth and investment in Africa are important prerequisites for that.
The Federal Chancellor sets great store by the fact that relations between the G8 nations and Africa are to be extended in the form of a partnership for reform. Our neighbouring continent of Africa needs a new qualitative approach. It is a continent that offers huge opportunities.
Respecting G8 pledges on development aid, strengthening ownership in Africa
The debt relief package for the poorest of the poor adopted at the Cologne Summit in 1999 was an important step forward. By adopting the Africa Action Plan at the 2002 Summit in Kananaskis the G8 pledged to support Africa's reform processes as part of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Further steps were taken in Gleneagles in 2005 when multilateral debt relief and additional financial commitments were agreed. The German G8 Presidency would now like to add a third element to these efforts – strengthening Africa's economic forces.
The German Presidency wants to send a positive message expressing confidence in Africa's future: The African countries need to develop structures that will encourage private investment, that is greater transparency, less corruption, more ownership, more resource sovereignty. The foundations for this must be laid within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Major elements of our joint efforts include good governance, peace and security, and the establishment and upgrading of health services that can effectively tackle HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
If cooperation between Africa and the G8 on these issues is to be based on trust it is absolutely vital that the G8 states do not renege on the pledges they have already made to step up development assistance.
Top-level representatives of African states will be attending the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm:
- President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, Arab Republic of Egypt
- President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
- President Elect Umaru Yar'Adua, Federal Republic of Nigeria
- President Abdoulaye Wade, Republic of Senegal
- President Thabo Mbeki, Republic of South Africa
The Africa meetings will also be attended by:
- Commission of the African Union, represented by the President of the Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré
- NEPAD, represented by Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia
- The African Union, represented by John A. Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana
