A forum of African heads of state will be held after the conclusion of the BRICS Summit starting tomorrow in Durban, South African President Jacob Zuma announced today.
Zuma said the BRICS Summit coincided with the historic celebration in May this year, of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation for African Unity, which has evolved into the African Union (AU).
“As part of marking this milestone and promoting African renewal, I will be hosting the BRICS Leaders Africa Dialogue Forum Retreat after the conclusion of the fifth BRICS Summit,” Zuma said, adding that he had invited 15 African Heads of State.
“These include the Chairperson of the African Union; the Chairperson of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee; the Heads of State and Government Chairing the AU’s Eight Regional Economic Communities as well as the Heads of State and Government Championing the AU/NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative,” Zuma said.
“I have also invited the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. In all, we will host 19 Heads of State and Government from BRICS and the continent. This is a real privilege for our young nation,” Zuma said.
The Africa Retreat will meet under the theme, ‘Unlocking Africa’s potential: BRICS and Africa Cooperation on Infrastructure,’ effectively aligning it with the theme of the 5th BRICS Summit, which is ‘BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation’.
It will focus on infrastructure development, as well as integration and industrialisation, which are aligned to Africa’s own priorities, for the mutual benefit of the BRICS countries and the African continent.