Rabat, 04/12/2022 (MAP) – The prosperity of the African youth depends on the adoption of a continental agenda that allows transforming the challenges of development into real opportunities, said, Sunday in Rabat, the president of the House of Councilors, Enaam Mayara.

Speaking at the opening of the 2nd Pan-African Parliament Youth Dialogue, organized by the Pan-African Parliament and hosted by the Moroccan Parliament, Mayara explained that the world is undergoing accelerated mutations that require the intensification of efforts to be in tune with the changes imposed by the new world order.

Africa has opportunities and potential likely to enable the emergence of a new continental development framework that will ensure fair and equitable continental economic transformations, he said, arguing that three structuring projects should be the basis for the continent’s development, including the adoption of an African Free Trade Agreement that will enable the continent’s businesses to have access to a market of more than 1.3 billion consumers, which will promote development and provide opportunities for young people.

The second area is the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which represents an ideal opportunity to harness the capacity of young Africans in innovation and favor the creation of wealth and opportunities through innovative start-ups, he said, noting that the third area is the emergence of new regional value chains that will gradually replace the pre-Covid-19 global value chain.

In this regard, he stressed the need to strengthen logistics links between countries at the maritime and air level to facilitate the exchange of goods and improve trade flows, as well as to increase funds to support the establishment of activities that create added value and employment opportunities for young people.

The Speaker of the House of Councilors also stressed that these projects are « historic and unprecedented opportunities » to ensure sustainable development and reduce the development gap with Northern countries, and called on parliamentarians to innovate methods based on efficiency and quality, which will have a direct impact on African citizens.

Mayara also stressed the need to mobilize efforts and resources to strengthen food sovereignty and food security on the continent, as well as to work on a new continental approach to strengthen health and energy sovereignty.