During a presentation at Casa África, the headquarters dedicated to relations between Africa and Spain, the Government of the Canary Islands, in collaboration with public and private institutions, has unveiled a three-year strategic plan. “Because of its geographical location, situated between three continents, its membership in the European Union as well as its history and its proximity to Africa, the Canaries are positioned as a hub between Africa, Europe and Latin America,” said the President during his speech. “This joint strategy aims to create an area of peace, prosperity, development and mutual respect,” he explained to an audience of institutions and entrepreneurs who have been collaborating with the continent for several years.

Clés de la Stratégie

Clavijo commented that some of the reasons underlying this strategy are :

– Proximity: The Canaries have a strategic proximity. Only 97 kilometers away, the islands are separated from the continent at the closest point.

– Demographics: Africa is experiencing a demographic explosion with a population that will increase fourfold in the coming years. 42% of all young people in the world live in Africa, said the President. With an average age of 19 years on the continent, compared to 42 years in the OECD, Africa will have 2.5 billion inhabitants in 2050, or 25% of the world’s population.

– Trade: The Canaries already show a positive trade balance with Africa, with annual exports of more than 300 million euros. Moreover, they are Spain’s main exporter to countries such as Mauritania and Senegal.

Luis Padilla, director of the Economic Directorate of Affairs with Africa of the Government of the Canary Islands, recalled the history of the Canaries with Africa. ” En 1997, a-t-il dit, cette direction a été créée, tandis qu “à l” échelle de l’Espagne, elle a été créée en 2017. The Canaries are the base of the World Food Program for Africa and opened Casa Afrique since its foundation in 2006. “The continent of the future is the African continent”, said the President, repeating several times the fundamental concept of reciprocity that he wants to defend with this strategy, creating a “sustainable area of prosperity”.

Coopération Internationale

Ana Suarez, co-chair of the Spain-Mauritania Bilateral Committee, explained that “the promotion of relations between the Canary Islands and Africa is based on three requirements: to provide security to companies wishing to internationalize, to support them institutionally and to strengthen connectivity with the continent.” To date, about 220 Canary Island companies operate in Africa. Some of the strategic sectors include renewable energies, water treatment, the maritime sector, health, tourism, as well as professional and university training. On his side, Luis Serra, Dean of the University of Las Palmas, emphasized that “Africa is in the DNA of Canary Islands society”. He stressed the need for a “holistic” collaborative approach that favors academic and scientific cooperation. “We have common problems,” he said, suggesting that these relations should be two-way.

The strategy is based on four key pillars:

1. Strengthening cooperation: Through an External Action Plan that includes the creation of joint commissions.

2. Improvement of infrastructures: Optimization of maritime and air connections.

3. Cooperation in the field of migration: With the support of the central government and the European Union.

4. Promotion of trade and investment: Creating joint opportunities.

These four pillars rest on two principles:

– La liaison entre nos peuples.

– The importance of the scientific, educational and technological field, which benefits from the experience accumulated by Canary Island companies and institutions in joint projects with African countries through the European Union’s INTERREG MAC programs, with funding of 200 million euros.

Défis

Luis Padilla explained that given the limited size of the islands’ economies, the priority is to focus on the closest countries such as Morocco and West Africa, with proactive policies such as Tierra Firme, a vocational training and employability program already operational in Mauritania and Senegal. “The great challenge for African nations is the formalization of the economy. 85% of the African economy is informal. For the development of the welfare state, it is essential to formalize the economy and to include young people in employment,” said the director of the Senegalese Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates the project in Senegal. Padilla also recalled other “challenges that exist in Africa, such as the crisis

the Sahel, the migratory challenge and the climatic challenge. At the same time, he said that while Africa is moving towards a single market, other countries such as Russia, Brazil and Turkey are becoming increasingly active in their relations with the African continent.

Un Futur Commun

“Our goal is to promote synergies between actors and initiatives, strengthening territorial and regional cooperation to create long-term opportunities with a continent that concentrates 30% of the world’s miners,” said Padilla. “It is essential to improve connectivity not only in terms of sea and air, but also concerning the visa processes, and to diversify our economy with the internationalization of our companies, given that we are already a reference in the Central Atlantic.” It is essential to promote the exchange of knowledge, as well as cooperation and investment in research, development and innovation (R&D+i),“said Luis Padilla, director of economic relations with Africa.” This is a strategy of understanding,“said President Clavijo.” We must get to know each other better and cultivate a constructive dialogue. “Part of our future lies there,” Padilla concluded.