Kinshasa, Aug. 6 (TOP243NEWS) – The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) signed an agreement on Thursday to establish the agency’s country office in Kinshasa.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony at the African Union City, chaired by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, in the presence of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, several government officials and representatives of international financial institutions.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Congolese government by Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya and by AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nardos Bekele-Thomas.
Paluku, who also serves as the President’s Special Envoy to the AUDA-NEPAD Steering Committee, said the office would serve as a technical interface between the DRC and the African Union for identifying, integrating and financing national projects aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
He said the office would also help mobilize technical and financial partners to support major regional integration projects, including the Grand Inga hydropower project and the Lobito Corridor.
Bekele-Thomas said the establishment of the office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reflects the shared commitment of both parties to accelerate the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
AUDA-NEPAD is the African Union’s technical agency responsible for coordinating and implementing priority regional and continental development programmes and projects aimed at advancing African integration and sustainable development.
Mike Pakoto |TOP243NEWS