Your Excellency Hon. Toure GAOUSSOU, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire

Your Excellency Dr. Akinwumi ADESINA, President of the African Development Bank,

Your Excellency Dr. Ibrahim A. MAYAKI, CEO of NEPAD Agency,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Distinguished Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

All protocol observed,

We have been gathering in this beautiful city of Abidjan since the last four days in the framework of the 2nd PIDA Week organized hand-in-hand by the PIDA stakeholders namely the AUC, AfDB and the NEPAD Agency. I have the pleasure to acknowledge the positive team spirit that characterized the preparation of this important and complex event. We are all proud of this, since it allowed us to conclude successfully our discussions.

I would like to seize this opportunity to express on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission our sincere gratitude to the Government of Cote d’Ivoire for all arrangements and the typically African hospitality extended to all of us.

Let me also thank the President of the African Development Bank and his entire staff for having accepted to host once again the PIDA Week and for all arrangements that enabled a smooth organization of the event.

My sincere appreciation also goes to our Development Partners, the Private sector representatives, and all distinguished Guests who once again have responded to our invitation positively and effectively. We highly appreciate your active participation and support.

We have had fruitful discussions around PIDA particularly on how to fast-track the implementation of its Priority Action Plan. As mentioned in the opening ceremony, progress has been made. However, we need to do more and faster to attain our 2020 targets. On the other hand, we should improve our communication and monitoring strategies with a focus on the social and economic impacts of projects such as the number of jobs created, population impacted etc.

I would like to express our appreciation of the numerous suggestions and recommendations made during the different PIDA Thematic sessions and Statutory Meetings as well as the other Stakeholders Meetings, namely ICA and NEPAD-IPPF.

I can ensure you that PIDA stakeholders will make good use of these recommendations as part of the implementation of the PIDA PAP.

Finally, as I am at the end of my second term, therefore, I would like to thank all of you for your valuable support during the time I have served as Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission. I would like to urge you to keep the same momentum and commitment of all stakeholders and partners in fast tracking the implementation of the PIDA programme.

Thank you for your kind attention