The World Bank has pledged to step up support to African countries with a special focus on their long-term development agendas, a senior bank official said.
“We need to support long-term development agendas in Africa with particular focus on infrastructure, agriculture and other real sectors.
These agendas will help remove bottlenecks and unleash growth,” World Bank Regional Vice-President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Victoria Kwakwa, told the press on Friday in Addis Ababa.
She made the remarks as she concluded her three-day visit to Ethiopia.
The Regional Vice-President said, over the past two years, the bank has been supporting African countries in their COVID-19 response.
It also helps them to strengthen their health systems.
“We have strong operations and we are discussing with governments of the continent to augment the possibility of growth across the continent,” Kwakwa said.
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“The World Bank welcomes the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) very much.
“And it is investing in the physical connectivity among the continent’s countries, involving the transboundary roads and trade facilitation.”
Regarding the Ethiopian economy, she said the East African country has seen a rebound of growth despite multiple challenges.
These challenges include the conflict in its Tigray and neighbouring regions and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ukraine crisis and drought and conflict in the northern region, she said, adding that Ethiopia is making progress.
Appreciating the cessation of hostility reached between the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Kwakwa urged for consolidation of the peace agreement not only in Tigray but also in other parts of the East African country. (Xinhua)
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