Sarkozy trumpets Africa’s economic growth prospects

NICE, France – Africa has the potential for vast economic growth and must have a louder voice in world politics, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said while opening a summit with 38 African leaders on Monday.

Paris wants to use the gathering as a springboard for business deals and to bury bitter memories of colonial rule.’Africa is our future’ and will be a principle reservoir for world economic growth in the decades to come, he said.The 25th Africa-France summit coincides with the 50th anniversary of independence for 14 former French colonies. It marks a new era of ties – for Sarkozy a partnership of friends able to discuss commerce or stickier questions like human rights.Breaking away from tradition, France has invited nearly 200 business leaders from France and Africa to this year’s summit.The dictatorships, conflicts, corruption and poverty that have plagued African nations for decades and define their image in the West have been reduced to sideline events at the two-day summit.Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stressed the need to change ‘African realities’ through commerce and new infrastructure. He asked that the summit put the accent on developing African economies, including strengthening the role of the private sector.’We want at all cost to end the marginal status of the African continent,’ he said.A harsh reality for nations like France is the growing presence in Africa of China, India, Brazil and Iran, and to a lesser degree the US. Many of those nations are moving full speed ahead to scoop up Africa’s natural resources, make trade and win contracts to build infrastructure.In French-speaking countries, mainly in north and west Africa, France must live down its past as a colonial ruler.An Elysee Palace official said Sarkozy is more interested in bilateral talks with leaders of countries not in the circle of former colonies. – Nampa-AP