Zimpapers Logo

ADDIS ABABA. — Oxfam international has announced that its liaison office to the African Union will be launching its new “Africa-China Dialogue Platform,” with a view to further opening the debate and discussion on the growing Africa-China partnership.

According to Oxfam, its new “Africa-China Dialogue Platform” will be launched tomorrow in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, aiming to encourage and facilitate a constructive engagement and dialogue of citizens, policy makers, researchers and other stakeholders on the growing partnership between Africa and China.

In line with the launch of the platform, a day-long expert seminar will discuss issues on Africa-China engagement and partnership with a specific focus on foreign direct investment and sustainable agriculture.

The agriculture sector is critically important if Africa is to deliver food security for its citizens, said the statement, it is central to Africa’s development path, currently generates 40 percent of Africa’s gross national product (GNP) and constitutes 40 percent of Africa’s exports and 70-80 percent of its employment.

It further stated that the agriculture sector has seen decades of declining investment.

“While African governments have committed to meet the target of investing at least 10 percent of their national budgets to boost agriculture (Malabo Declaration) private investments can also play a constructive role,” noted the statement. — Xinhua.