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The Hon Melissa Parke MP, Minister for International Development
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Minister for International Development, Melissa Parke, today met Australian businesses to discuss ways the private sector and Australia's aid program can work together to help lift Africans out of poverty.
Ms Parke addressed an AusAID Africa Roundtable with Business in Perth, which looked at how the expertise and skills of Australia's private sector can help drive employment, economic growth and development in Africa.
'Australia is recognised as a world leader in agricultural research, with expertise in areas such as dry-land farming, water and soil management,' Ms Parke said. 'We are also highly recognised in the area of mining for development and mining governance.
'The outlook for African economic growth and development is optimistic, and the effective, efficient and transparent management of these sectors, for the benefit of all Africans, is crucial to lifting more Africans out of poverty.'
The roundtable was attended by about 35 private sector representatives, predominantly from the mining and agricultural sectors, and included representatives from AngloGold Ashanti, Newcrest Mining, Aurecon, Intrasia Capital, the Australia-Africa Business Council and the Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group.
AusAID is already working with the private sector in a number of areas in Africa, including a public-private partnership to improve water resource management in Southern Africa, a pilot to build the capacity of seven African countries to prepare and manage mining-related infrastructure projects, and support for agriculture challenge funds which aim to stimulate private sector investment in projects that benefit the rural poor.
'Australia recognises that a growing private sector – the engine of economic growth – is fundamental to moving people out of poverty,' Ms Parke said.
'As a donor to Africa, it is essential that the Australian Government draws on the invaluable expertise of Australian business working there.'
The Africa Roundtable is part of AusAID's broader Private Sector Development Strategy and follows other business roundtables in Indonesia, the Pacific, PNG and Myanmar.
Media contact: Rachel Maycock 0409 725 882