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Minister Müller visits Central and East Africa: “More engagement in Africa is in the German interest”
German Development Minister Gerd Müller has left for Central and East Africa today (August 14). Central topics of the trip to Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya are the promotion of investment, the fight against pandemics and climate and environmental protection, writes the BMZ.
“Climate protection, raw materials, investments for more Jobs - in Africa, are currently some of the most relevant topics being discussed in Germany. The Marshall Plan with Africa is beginning to take effect, German-African trade has clearly outperformed in the first five months of the year. Momentum must now be reinforced by innovation and investment on the African continent, which should also be reflected in Germany and the EU's budget, ”said Minister Müller before departure.
On his first stop in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, Minister Müller visits the local Volkswagen factory, which annually produces around 5,000 cars for the regional market. Better framework conditions for investments are a central goal of the Marshall Plan with Africa initiated by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ). Development Minister Müller: “Rwanda is a good example of how consistent reform policies and investment support are attracting companies from around the world, and we are committed to enabling more private sector investment and better vocational training, while simultaneously contributing to existing deficits clearly addressing democracy and the rule of law. ”
The second stop on the journey is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the second largest country in Africa by area. The country is currently shaken by the one-year Ebola outbreak, which has claimed over 1,800 lives.
Minister Müller: “Stability and democratic change in Congo are also a prerequisite for the continuation of our development cooperation - especially in the protection of tropical forests and the establishment of fair supply chains.” In the Ebola crisis we work together with the World Bank and the World Health Organization WHO on prevention and strengthening healthcare systems and will continue to build our support in the affected areas of eastern Congo. “
The trip concludes with a visit to Kenya. Germany and Kenya are working together closely on climate protection. In the future, co-operation to protect biodiversity will also be expanded.
Gerd Müller: ”Climate protection and economic growth are not contradictory: by building renewable energies and the sustainable use of natural resources, jobs are being created in Kenya, where we want to make a contribution through our involvement in vocational Training and intensify the fight against corruption. “