Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan arrived Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Wednesday to participate in the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa, PANA reported.
With the theme “Shaping Africa’s Transformation”, the forum is billed to attract 700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, media and the arts from over 70 countries.
It is expected to afford African leaders an exceptional opportunity to bring together pan-African and global leaders to discuss the future of the continent.
As part of the programme, President Jonathan will Thursday chair an informal session of world economic leaders during which they will examine how African countries can boost regional trade.
Issues including access to financing, building trade capacity, the role of the private sector, fostering regional integration, developing African supply chains based on value added goods and best practices are expected to be discussed at the session.
President Jonathan will also partake as a panelist alongside other African leaders in a plenary session, titled ‘Africa’s Leadership’, and chaired by the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Prof. Klaus Schwab.
The session is expected to address issues like fighting poverty and inequality, fostering regional and sub regional integration and positioning Africa in a new global environment.
On Friday, the President is expected to participate in a bilateral meeting alongside Prof. Schwab. He is also scheduled to lead a discussion, titled ‘Insights into West and Central Africa’.
Nigeria’s Business Mogul, Aliko Dangote, is also expected to lead a discussion at the forum.
The president was accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Finance (Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala), National Planning (Dr. Shamsudeen Usman), Trade and Investment (Dr. Olusegun Aganga) and the Minister of State for Health, Ali Pate.
Other African leaders expected at the forum included Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Presidents Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Boni Yayi of Benin Jacob Zuma of South Africa.
Mauritian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Charles Gaëtan Xavier-Luc Duval, Namibian Prime Minister, Nahas Gideon Angula, and Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur G. Mutambara, are also expected at the forum.
