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greater collaboration by all countries within specific sub-regions.Africa must accelerate the pace of regional integration to providebasis for competitive markets and diversification of its productionstructures. In addition, for the business sector in Africa to grow andcontribute to poverty reduction and economic development, domesticinvestment as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) mustimprove from an average 18% in sub-Saharan Africa to between 25%and 30%, which is the average rate in East Asia.By bringing together authorities and representatives from acrosscontinents and all economic sectors to discuss and share knowledgeon the challenges of and opportunities for increasing growth, thisCongress clearly appreciates that the task of economic developmentis not for public agents alone. Our governments need the support ofall sectors if Africa is to attain its vision of greater prosperity and integration.Our objective should therefore be to continue to promotecollaboration between governments, the business sector, the threepan-African institutions of AU, ECA and AfDB, the regional economiccommunities so that their joint effort yields visible progress for Africa.It is against this background that I wish once again to salute the initiativeof the African Business Roundtable (ABR) and IntergovernmentalAuthority on Development (IGAD) in jointly organising the5th African World Business Congress and 1st IGAD Investment Forum.This collaboration will surely promote and boost investmentopportunities in this sub-region and is therefore most welcome andcommendable.ECA, in collaboration with all its partners, will give ABR and IGADall possible support, especially in the areas of capacity building andinstitutional strengthening so that they can achieve the noble objectivesfor which they were set up.200 Part Four