Newsday Business Reporter Victoria Mtomba (ND) caught up with the outgoing African Union Commission commissioner for infrastructure and energy, Elham Ibrahim (EI), in Abidjan on the sidelines of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (Pida) last week. Below are excerpts of the interview about the achievements in the years she has been AU infrastructure and energy commissioner:
BY VICTORIA MTOMBA
ND: How has your term been as the African Union Commission commissioner for infrastructure and energy?
EI: It was really interesting for me, this is my second term. I joined the African Union Commission in 2008 and spent four years.
I came through an election and all these positions are elected positions. I won the election in 2008 and I was elected in 2012. The rules of the AU allow you to serve for two terms only.
As you know, the election was supposed to be last July, but for some reason it will happen in January.
ND: What were the highlights during your term?
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EI: Very interesting because this portfolio has all modes of transport, information and communication technology, energy and also tourism, so you can imagine how diversified this was.
My background was mainly in ICT and energy, transport and tourism were new, but I was eager to learn and also to add. Such a position is more strategic, more political and not so technical. I think I participated and added some thought in this area.
ND: What were your major milestones during your term and how did you achieve them?
EI: I can say the major one is Pida. When I joined the AU in 2008, it was an idea. I didn’t invent the Pida wheel, it was something that had been discussed by my predecessor, but it was developed, prepared and adopted by our different levels between 2008 and 2012.
Why is Pida important? It is a holistic programme that covers all sectors of infrastructure. It was a mess, as we had so many masterplans, some by regional economic communities, some by the World Bank, New Partnership for Africa’s Development, African Development Bank and every stakeholder was interested in his masterplan.
Pida formalised the continent’s priority, which is approved and agreed by all sectors. This programme included everybody, the participation of all these stakeholders and an agreement on the criteria.
If we are now looking at implementing Agenda 2063, looking at this integrated continent, how can we have it without infrastructure? This is the main achievement, it includes many other initiatives.
ND: What are your expectations of your successor?
EI: Continue in regulatory frameworks in all sectors. If we have clear regulations, this will encourage investments on the continent.
We started this work and it should continue, harmonisation of technical standards, for example, transport sector, the roads, trains should have same technical specifications and also other Pida projects that are in the pipeline. The member states should also make contributions.
ND: What is the update on the projects so far?
EI: I might not give you the exact number, for example, in the energy sector, Kalita, Ruzizi 3, Inga is not completed, but it is progressing, it’s not at the speed that we want.
The corridor roads are the missing links, as an example the Ethiopia-Kenya road and Kenya-Tanzania and Uganda. There is a change in the continent, the spirit of working together at regional level is there. Five years ago, this is what we missed. There is good work going on and I will have to update you.
ND: What can be done to attract investments on the continent?
EI: The interest for financing infrastructure projects is there, but sometimes the environment is not conducive although it differs from place to place.
ND: Thank you for your time ma’am.
EI: Thank you as well.
