Dr Mohamed Chambas, Secretary General of the African, Carribean and Pacific (ACP) Group, on Monday said a close collaboration and partnership was needed between the European and African private sectors to address the infrastructure deficits that constrained business with the African continent.
He said Africa and countries in the European Community had to be clear on the quantum and benchmarks of investment, and make a commitment for guaranteed performance that would ultimately benefit the two sides.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the opening ceremony of the third Africa-Summit in Tripoli, Dr Chambas underlined the need for the
relationship between Africa and Europe to go beyond aid trade, to mutually satisfying co-operation and collaboration that would lift people out of poverty.
Ghana's President John Evans Atta Mills is attending the two-day meeting, which is attracting Heads of State and Government from 53 African countries and 27 from Europe.
The conference which comes under the theme, "Investment, Economic Growth and Job Creation", is discussing peace and security, climate change,
regional integration, private sector development, infrastructure and energy, economic co-operation, the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), migration and food security.
Dr Chambas said the Summit's theme provided the leaders the needed impetus to make adaptations to meet the challenges of the time.
He recalled that a pre-summit meeting last September observed that the Summit would provide a missing link in efforts to achieve the MDGs and job creation and the growth of African economies for increased investment.
According to the Secretary General, the EU wanted to see Africa create more opportunities for job creation as Africa was also rethinking its relationship with Europe.
What Africa needed was a step beyond trade to value addition, and opportunities to address the developmental needs of the continent to the
benefit of its people, he said.
On the demands back at home by the chiefs and people of the Western Region for 10 per cent of the oil revenue for the development of the area,
Dr Chambas said the demand was not a new phenomenon.
He suggested a look at modules in other areas, citing the Trinidadian module as an example, in addressing the situation.
Dr Chamabas underlined the need for reforms and transparency for an even and fair distribution of the nation's resources.