Charity is not going to save Africa from poverty but real investment without condition, President Isaias underscores

President Isaias Afwerki underlined that charity is not going to save Africa from poverty and transform it into a trade center, but a real investment without condition. He made the salient remarks during an interview he conducted with the Chinese newspaper, Shanghai Daily.

Asmara, 25 January 2012 – President Isaias Afwerki underlined that charity is not going to save Africa from poverty and transform it into a trade center, but a real investment without condition. He made the salient remarks during an interview he conducted with the Chinese newspaper, Shanghai Daily.

In the interview that focused on Eritrea’s economic progress, investment opportunities and the role of natural resources in development, President Isaias noted that relations based on partnership is imperative for investment in Africa and underlined that Eritrea is rigorously working on it.

Reiterating that Eritrea supports relations that upgrade collective interest and regional stability, the President asserted that different infrastructure activities involving ports, airports, electricity supply, transportation and the like that are being conducted in partnership with the People’s Republic of China hold testimony to that.  He also indicated that a project that demands substantial investment to build roads which could have regional importance is under consideration.

Stating that trade policies need to be harmonized within the region so as to really succeed, President Isaias asserted that since at present there exist no policies that encourage trade, and that the alternative for Eritrea is to establish free trade zone.

Furthermore, the President explained that Eritrea, in a bid to ensure food security, has developed a number of irrigation and soil, as well as water conservation programs. However, that is the minimum in terms of the country’s long-term development program and that more needs to be done, he elaborated.

President Isaias also explained that effort is underway to develop cotton cultivation, in addition to developing commercial and high-value crops for export.

He further expressed optimism that a young and dynamic country like Eritrea would, with the right investment, be able to build viable economic development, and underlined that with each achievement, the challenge becomes ever more demanding as regards developing the economy to a sustainable level.