Yokohama, 2 June 2013
In a session chaired by President Boni of Benin, President Kagame addressed participants during the plenary titled TICAD V on Resilient and Inclusive Economy. President Kagame addressed the need to ensure the sustainability of African growth that is people centered growth and regionally integrated:
“The question today, is how to simultaneously impact the lives of many, and build a resilient foundation that will sustain our economic gains against all shocks, over the medium to long-term, putting Africa on an irreversible economic trajectory.”
Describing the youth of Africa as key to its continuous growth, President Kagame called on leaders to continue investing in their development:
“Africa’s people particularly the young are our primary resource towards achieving long-term resilience. We should continue to invest in their good health, and equip them with vital skills and proper mind-set for them to realie their individual and collective aspirations.”
With examples from Rwanda such as crop intensification program that transformed subsistance farmers into commercial farmers, President Kagame explained the need for leaders to focus on tangible changes in the lives of citizens:
“Achieving inclusive and resilient economic growth requires responsive public leaders to the needs of the citizens, and provision of social protection services even for the most vulnerable to participate in development. Our experience in Rwanda has shown that this approach mobilizes citizens to own the transformation agenda and become agents of change themselves.”
President Kagame concluded by urging African nations to recommit to regional integration:
“The economic destiny of each African country is closely connected with that of others. Scaling today’s good progress in Africa and sustaining it against the risk of reversal shall require a strong commitment and drive towards deepening regional economic integration.”
President Kagame ended the day with a visit to the African fair where members of the private sectors in the field of ICT as well as women from Ibanga coffee cooperatives were exhibiting their work.