EU-AU Summit 28.-30.11.2017
Speech by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä
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I would also like to thank the government and people of the Ivory Coast as well as the African Union for the warm welcome and for hosting this Summit.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to address a few key issues that affect the future of our two continents: growth and employment and the role of girls and women. In both topics, focus on youth is the key to success. This is why we also have a youth delegate in our delegation.
Africa is a continent with great potential for economic growth, trade, innovation and investments. Generating sustainable inclusive growth is a priority for us Europeans, as well. I firmly believe the two continents could do much more together in this respect, and joint efforts are needed.
The future of our two continents depends on the youth. We should put all our efforts to eradicating youth unemployment in Africa as well as in Europe. No country can afford to have a young population out of employment in the longer term.
Here we need to work actively together with private sector and civil society. We also need to take full advantage of science and technology.
Finland will continue its partnership with African states with more focus and resources on private sector cooperation. Youth are in the forefront in using modern technologies. You can be sure that when given the opportunity they will find ways to employ themselves and develop vibrant businesses.
As I speak here, the world's leading startup event called Slush is starting in Finland. Slush is a non-profit movement driven by students and youth. Its idea is to create positive attitude towards starting up new innovative businesses. I’m happy to note that many African participants have attended the event in previous years, and there are around twenty participants also this year. I hope that their visit is successful and they come back with fresh ideas for the benefit of their countries.
Another innovative example is the so-called CodeBus Africa project. This year, young Finnish university students visited 10 African countries with a bus, teaching coding, with the help of music. The CodeBus reached almost 2000 local youth of whom over 60% were girls.
Dear Colleagues,
Future of any society is built upon knowledge and education that provides young people, both girls and boys, with necessary skills.
Finland celebrates its 100 years of independence this year. Throughout our history women have played an active role both in political decision making and in working life. No nation can afford to waste 50 % of its intellectual capacity.
Too many girls and women in the world still have no means to influence their own lives. Girls’ rights and equal access to education is the key to sustainable development. Another issue that is well known but not yet well acted upon is the sexual and reproductive health and rights. Protecting them not only saves lives but also leads to significant economic gains both for individuals and for societies.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Migration and refugee flows are high on our common agendas. Young people have always searched for a better life. If they are not given hope and future prospects in their home countries, they will try to find it elsewhere.
To conclude: what matters in the long term is education and equality, employment and business opportunities – these are key factors in creating prospects and hope for the youth. Empowering youth will be the only way forward.