Organisers at the World Economic Forum meeting in Cape Town were tallying up on Friday morning the number of signatures of business leaders endorsing the recommendations of the Commission for Africa.
“It’s looking good,” said Africa Economic Summit spokesperson Matthias Luefkens.
The final day’s plenary session includes an address by President Thabo Mbeki.
The three-day summit deliberately focused on the Commission for Africa report, which recommends a series of far-reaching interventions in Africa.
The report, among others, recommends a doubling of aid to Africa with new funding to target infrastructure, human capacity, trade and investment.
Documents tabled at the summit said a “strong statement” of support by companies could positively influence the Group of Eight heads of government meeting in Gleaneagles, Scotland, in July, where the report will be considered.
About 700 delegates from 42 countries are in Cape Town.
The Commission for Africa was launched by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in February last year. The aim of the commission was to take a fresh look at Africa’s past and present and the international community’s role in its development. — Sapa
Read more about the Africa Economic Summit on the World Economic Forum website