20120710
Xinhua
The 24th Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the African Union (AU) on Monday officially kicked off at the New African Union Conference Center (AUCC) in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, under the theme: "Boosting Intra-African Trade".

The Ambassadors representing the 54 member countries have met at the AU Headquarters within the framework of the 19th AU Summit to discuss the agenda for the Summit.

In the two-day meeting they exchange views on specific reports including the reports of the Advisory Sub-committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters; sub-committee on programmes and conferences; sub-committee on structures; multilateral cooperation; economic and trade matters; the report on the NEPAD as well as that of the refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa), said AU.

The ambassadors are also expected to consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 21st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council among others due to be held after two days here in Addis Ababa.

According to AU, the report of the PRC will be submitted to the Executive Council for adoption.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, said achievements made in the past decade in peace and security on the continent though the past six months have been particularly challenging.

While progress has continued to be made in Somalia, escalation of tension between Sudan and South Sudan which led military confrontation between the two countries, the coup detat in Guinea Bissau, the multifaceted crisis in Mali and Sahel region were the challenges in the peace and security area, said Mwencha.

The Chairperson noted that encouraging evolution in the negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan, steps taken to address the crisis in Guinea Bissau and ongoing efforts to consolidate the return of constitutional order in Mali among others have made the pan African institution to take comfort.

Regarding economic issue, the Chairperson indicated that African economies continue to be resilient in the aftermath of the global economic slowdown.

Consequently global interest in Africa remains high providing more opportunities for greater growth and development, said the Deputy Chairperson.

He said this year AU focuses on boosting intra-Africa trade whose goal is to establish and fast track the continental free trade area by 2017.

"In agriculture, progress has been made in a number of member states to boost agricultural productivity and trade in pursuit of Food and Nutrition Security as well as increased agricultural incomes on the continent," said Mwencha.

About 30 member states have endorsed a Common Vision and Strategy through the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) Compacts and of which 23 have identified investment programs and scaled up on as well as donor financing to agriculture, he added.

The Deputy Chairperson also indicated that a lot has been achieved in the last six months with regard to partnerships.

He also indicated that as part of enhancing partnership, AU would participate in the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) next week in Beijing, China.

In his remarks today, the Deputy Chairperson has touched other topics including among others, the social sector, infrastructure development, and capacity building activities on the continent whereby Africa has important strides while a lot remains to be done.