Decision on the Report on the Inaugural African Economic Platform Held in Port Louis, Mauritius, 20-22 March 2017 – Doc. EX.CL/1023(XXXI)

DECISION ON THE REPORT ON THE INAUGURAL AFRICAN ECONOMIC
PLATFORM HELD IN PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, 20 - 22 MARCH, 2017

Doc. EX.CL/1023(XXXI)

The Assembly,

1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Inaugural African Economic Platform; held in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 20 - 22 March, 2017 and ADOPTS the recommendations contained therein;

2. COMMENDS the Republic of Mauritius for the successful hosting of the Inaugural African Economic Platform;

3. DECIDES as follows:

1. The Commission and the African Union Foundation to ensure that all Member States are invited to the African Economic Platform, and that the level of representation be at the discretion of the Member States;

2. Adequate time to be allocated to the discussion of all the themes of the Platform;

3. An appropriate venue to be used for future African Economic Platforms;

4. An independent financial audit be undertaken to determine the financial impact of the Inaugural African Economic Platform;

5. The Commission in collaboration with the African Union Foundation to reduce the cost of Private Sector participation in the African Economic Platform, with a view to attract more participants from the Private Sector;

6. A Tripartite Summit (Member States, Private Sector and Academia) on Education and Skills Development, Science, Technology and Innovation to be convened before the second edition of the African Economic Platform, to be held in 2018;

7. The Commission, in collaboration with the African Union Foundation to develop a Roadmap for the implementation of the recommendations on the Inaugural African Economic Platform, and to submit the same for consideration at the January 2018 Summit;

8. The Commission, in collaboration with the African Union Foundation and Member States to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the Inaugural African Economic Platform, and to submit a report with appropriate recommendations to the January 2018 Summit;

9. The African Union Foundation in collaboration with the Commission to develop a follow up mechanism to record and facilitate agreements reached, projects enunciated and business deals concluded during the meetings of the Platform.

4. APPROVES the offer by the Republic of Mauritius to host the second African Economic Platform in March, 2018. In this regard, REQUESTS the African Union Commission and the African Union Foundation to work closely with the host country Mauritius to ensure a successful second African Economic Platform.