Nordic African Cooperation on Green Growth

By State of Green | [email protected]

1 April 2014

Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Martin Lidegaard, has hosted a Nordic African foreign ministers meeting in Brussels together with Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, to discuss green and inclusive growth in Africa.

"Today we have taken a first step towards enhanced cooperation and strengthened partnership for green and inclusive growth in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest growing regions globally with very impressive growth rates. Many African countries show interest in green solutions in areas where Danish companies can deliver - such as health, water, energy and natural resources management,” states Minister for Foreign Affairs Martin Lidegaard

The key is enhanced cooperation between government institutions as well as more conducive political and economic framework conditions which can attract private investments. These are areas where Denmark can contribute.

“If we succeed in engaging Danish companies it will contribute to both inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa as well as growth and employment in Denmark. I look forward to continuing our close cooperation with Nordic and African partners during the upcoming 3GF in Copenhagen in October," says the minister.

Background

The Nordic African Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels on 1 April 2014 is being held in the margins of the EU-Africa Summit in Brussels on 2-3 April 2014. The meeting is part of the Danish growth initiative “Opportunity Africa” which was launched by the Danish government during the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF) in 2013. The "Opportunity Africa" initiative focusses on two objectives:

- To intensify economic diplomacy with African partners, to promote inclusive and green growth; and

- To create a new Nordic-African Alliance for regional economic integration

The meeting focusses on new growth opportunities in Africa, including a growing middle class, fast emergent economies, and a real chance to eliminate extreme poverty within the time span of a generation.

Private companies and investors in the Nordic countries possess both technology and know-how when it comes to green solutions to conventional energy supply, degrading natural environments, natural resources management, pollution as well as challenges posed by climate change. These are opportunities which can be turned into a strong African-Nordic partnership on green and inclusive growth.

Source: Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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