AA/ Dakar / Alioune Ndiaye
The President of the African Union, also President of Senegal, Macky Sall, wants solutions to the delays recorded in the procurement deadlines, which according to him, constitute an obstacle to the execution of development projects and programs in Africa.
The current chairman of the African Union spoke on Wednesday at the business forum of the United States-Africa summit, which is being held from December 13 to 15 in Washington.
“My last remark relates to the excessive delays that hamper the execution of development projects and programs. The deadlines for awarding public contracts are often too long,” he noted in his speech.
Delays of up to 389 days for an international tender, 273 days for a restricted tender, 298 days for a national tender and 90 days for an inquiry and price request, argued Sall, noting that these figures were compiled by the World Bank in 2015.
“These abnormally long delays, with complex procedures and formalities, inevitably lead to low disbursement rates for development project financing”, he regretted, noting that time was running out for Africa, which wants to be emerging.
“We need to work together and have the courage to reform to remove all these barriers which hinder cooperation, trade and investment”, he therefore recommended. This, President Sall said, is a prerequisite for a successful partnership.
He also noted access to credit as well as the revision of the “abnormally high” risk perception as other points entering into the prerequisites to be fulfilled if we want to build a partnership for a prosperous and resilient future “as the theme of the forum”.
The business forum being held on Day 2 of the US-Africa Summit focuses on increasing two-way trade and investment. Private sector leaders from more than 300 American and African companies are taking part.
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