05 May 2017
The Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator Ian Gorst, has been invited to attend the World Economic Forum on Africa, taking place between the 3rd and 5th May 2017 in Durban, South Africa, with a focus on creating job opportunities for a growing youth population, tackling climate change and other key challenges against the backdrop of the worldwide technological revolution.
The meeting is designed to convene regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to agree priorities that will help Africa achieve inclusive growth.
Senator Gorst will attend the event accompanied by Richard Corrigan, Chief Officer of Financial Services, Digital & Enterprise. Whilst in Durban the Chief Minister and Mr Corrigan will engage in bilateral meetings with several African Ministers and industry leaders to discuss areas of mutual co-operation between Jersey and countries within the region.
The Government of Jersey has additionally been invited to participate in a Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) session entitled ‘Addressing Corruption: a Roadmap to Recovery’. This session acknowledges that corruption is a barrier to economic and social growth in Africa. Participants will discuss how to rebuild trust and integrity in business and institutions, resulting in more-accessible markets, lowered risks for investors and a greater ease of doing business.
The session will also seek to identify how positive change can be fostered across regions and sectors to rebuild trust and address corruption. Jersey has a strong message to convey on its recent successes in prosecuting complex corruption, fraud and money laundering cases; which is indicative of the Island’s commitment to combat financial crime and particularly issues of bribery and corruption
The Chief Minister commented “I am delighted to have been invited to attend the World Economic Forum on Africa. Jersey has positive, strengthening relationships with several countries in Africa and these continue to develop positively for our mutual benefit. In late 2016 we entered into an important Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Rwanda, and in March of this year I signed a preliminary asset sharing agreement, paving the way for the return of £3million of stolen assets to the people of Kenya.
Our attendance at The World Economic Forum reinforces to our partners in the continent the importance that Jersey places on our links with Africa. I am committed to working with them, through trade and international development, to ensure the long-term growth of our relationships.”
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