Ghana dance troupe performs traditional dances with guests during the Africa Day event.
Doha, Qatar: Africa is open to international cooperation and partnership with Qatar, and the rest of the world to build a strong continent, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Doha and President of the Group of African Ambassadors in Doha H E Amr ElSherbini has disclosed.
ElSherbini, speaking during the 60th Africa Day celebration held at the Diplomatic Club, also lauded Qatar’s commitment to the continent on all fronts. The event was attended by the Director of African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director of the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, MoFA officials, African ambassadors and diplomats, as well as envoys of European, Asian and American countries in Qatar.
“We celebrate Africa Day on the ground of the sisterly State of Qatar; therefore, I express my deepest thanks for the growing interest that the State of Qatar gives to our continent and its keenness to be a reliable and effective partner in the African economic development,” ElSherbini said.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, African ambassadors and other envoys during the Africa Day celebration in Doha.
He added that Qatar is working closely to develop and consolidate its cooperation with the countries of our continent in all fields by employing the best capabilities and opportunities available to serve the common interests of Africa and Qatar.
“Our continent is open to cooperation with all international partners, including governments, international organisations, private sector companies and global financing institutions, to build an Africa of the future through a cooperative framework and sustainable partnerships that ensure the achievement of mutual interests equitably,” the envoy added.
According to ElSherbini, signing the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) would pioneer Africa’s Agenda 2063, launched in 2021, towards enhancing intra-African trade and economic integration among African countries and the world.
He said the agreement is expected to contribute to facilitating and coordinating trade systems and mitigating challenges related to overlapping trade agreements on the continent and would stimulate more economic integration, enhance the competitiveness of local industries and attract more foreign direct investment to create opportunities for new investments and initiatives.
Meanwhile, ElSherbini congratulated Qatar for its success in organising an exceptional edition of the FIFA World Cup 2022. He also lauded the country for hosting the Fifth United Nations Conference of the Least Developed Countries, among other events.
The participating African countries at the event displayed their culture through artworks, handicrafts, cuisine, music and dance. Participants included Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Eritrea, South Africa, Rwanda, Liberia, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, among others.
Celebrated on May 25, Africa marks the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU). This year’s anniversary was marked under the slogan: “Our Africa Our Future.”
