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First Pan African Conference on Innovation and Cluster Competitiveness

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 14-16 April 2008
Two hundred participants from more than 30 countries will meet at the first Pan African Competitiveness Forum (PACF) in Addis Ababa. PACF will be launched as a new continent-wide competence and action center on innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives in Africa. PACF will support stakeholders from business, knowledge institutions and government to respond more effectively to the unique challenges and opportunities that Africa is facing in the global competition. The conference is organized by the African Union (AU), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and TCI-The Competitiveness Institute
See Press Release

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/2/2008

For more information:
Prof. Burton LM Mwamila
Chairman
PACF Steering Committee
mwamila @ udsm.ac.tz
phone +255 784524291

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives are in wide practice throughout the world. They have in the past decade proved very successful in enhancing sustainable economic growth and development.

“Unfortunately, stakeholders in Africa often lack access to knowledge and best practice on how to effectively develop and facilitate innovation and clusters based competitiveness initiatives”, says Prof. Burton LM Mwamila, Chairman of the PACF Steering Committee. PACF is as a new continent-wide competence and action center on innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives in Africa.

Good goals and good objectives do not necessarily make good policy. Macroeconomic policies only make way for productivity, but it does not improve it. Prosperity in a region is created by its micro economy, which is based in the sophistication of its companies and industries. By improving both the current productivity and the innovative capacity, the business environment in a region get a better quality.

A cluster consists of companies that develops and produces products or services within a certain field of competence in a region. The system of actors, that in different ways support these companies, forms an innovation system. These can be anything from subcontractors and service firms, to local authorities, educational and training organizations, financial institutions and venture capitalists.

Identifying and actively developing clusters, by improving the access to specialized suppliers, skills and information, the cluster’s competitiveness and productivity can increase dramatically. This is done by identifying regional competitive areas or fields of expertise, and support, coordinate and strengthen the cooperation and growth among the companies and the supporting actors within this area.

Cluster development initiatives are an important new direction in economic policy, building on earlier efforts in macroeconomic stabilization, privatization, market opening, and reducing the costs of doing business.

“In Africa, one of the obstacles for improving competitiveness is that the stakeholders in the value chains do not cooperate to grow together. They are all fighting to get a bigger piece of a small cake, instead of working together and enlarge the market. This leads to a waste resources and weaken their competitiveness in the market place. Working together is the core of clustering. Cluster development can lead to innovation and enhance competitiveness for all involved,” says Teshome Kebede, a cluster competitiveness pioneer in Ethiopia.

In the past two years a number of lead proponents of innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives in Africa have successfully crafted a joint foundation for collaboration and learning.

“The 1st Pan African Competitiveness Forum will mark the beginning of learning and sharing ideas and experience on innovation and cluster based competitiveness in Africa, between African countries and with their global partners. On this basis PACF will become a major reference point in Africa for competitiveness dialogue, collaboration and joint action in years to come”, says Thomas Winther, PACF facilitator and coordinator.


For more information and detailed programme please visit www.pacf2008.com
or contact
Prof. Burton LM Mwamila
Chairman, PACF Steering Committee
mwamila @ udsm.ac.tz
phone +255-784524291

Thomas Winther
PACF General Facilitation and Coordination, TCI Africa Commissioner
info @ pacf2008.com
phone +233-244333137 or +45-28762121

The African Union is an intergovernmental organization consisting of fifty-three African nations. It was established in July 9, 2002, as a successor to the African Economic Community (AEC) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Its headquarters is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
www.africa-union.org

The Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Sida, is a governmental agency under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Sida’s goal is to contribute to making it possible for poor people to improve their living conditions. The Department for Research Cooperation (SAREC) is Sida’s sector department for support to partner country research and research of importance for the development of these countries.
www.sida.se

TCI-The Competitiveness Institute, is a global professional body of academics, business people, policy makers, consultants, and analysts devoted to economic development and focused on cluster-based development initiatives. The mission is to improve living standards and local competitiveness of regions across the world by enhancing cluster-based development initiatives. It is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. TCI has approximately 500 members in more than 50 countries.
www.competitiveness.org