By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African Union Commission
(AUC) and the World Bank have reviewed progress in their cooperation on
continental integration, focusing on air transport connectivity, digital
transformation and moving policy commitments towards projects ready for
implementation.
The discussions took place
during a meeting between African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and
Energy, H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge, and Nathan Belete, World Bank Director for
Regional Programs, Africa.
The meeting reviewed joint
initiatives, including the Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and
Realize Agenda 2063 (BIASHARA) Project, which supports the implementation of
the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
The project includes work on
intra-African air connectivity, aviation infrastructure, air cargo and trade
facilitation.
The two sides also discussed
the West Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP), in which the
Commission participates alongside the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and Smart Africa. The programme supports broadband connectivity and
the foundations of a single digital market in West Africa.
Discussions also covered the
African Union Theme of the Year 2027, “AU at the Dawn of its 25th Anniversary:
Leveraging the Full Potential of SAATM and New Technologies for Continental
Integration.”
The meeting emphasised the
need to move from studies and policy commitments towards projects ready for
implementation.
The African Union
Commission’s Department of Infrastructure and Energy continues to work with the
World Bank in implementing Agenda 2063, with a focus on connecting African
markets through efficient air transport and reliable digital infrastructure.
