Head of NEPAD Energy Programme, Professor Mosad Elmissiry
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A two-day bioenergy symposium
brought together the experts and bio-energy investors to Johannesburg city in
South Africa to deliberate on exploration of the continent’s resources by
bioenergy industry for better energy and food security.
The bioenergy symposium hosted by
the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) discussed ways of tapping
into Africa’s resources in a bid to produce clean energy fuels.
The Energy Programme Head, at
NEPAD, Prof. Mosad Elmissiry said NEPAD’ objective is to drive bioenergy
programmatic activities and see real results that NEPAD is a result-oriented
organisation.
The symposium also sees to the
review of conditions, criteria and operation model to set-up Incubator Fund.
Also speaking about the outcome of
the symposium, the Project Team leader of BizClim, Gavin Maxwell said Africa
needs a solution that encourages enterprise and rewards work.
“This needs both public and private
investment harnessed and distributed through a trusted channel, and that is the
idea role for the Bio-Enterprise Incubator Fund,” Gavin explained.
He added that as BizClim is a
European Union Project providing technical assistance for improving the
business climate in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean, it has the interest
of Africa at heart to be part of the symposium.
NEPAD boss, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki told
participants to think radically on how to forge strong partnerships which could
tackle developmental challenges in the continent as NEPAD’s role is to ensure
the implementations of decisions are taken on energy.
Equally commenting, Ms. Nomfundo Mthembu of
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), says “Their approach is commendable
as it involves a wide variety of delegates from the Bioenergy community. Unlike
other development approaches, this approach is a “bottom-up” approach which is
mostly guaranteed to achieve a higher level of success.”
Yinka Awosanya/LS
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