The general objective of the conference is to enhance Africa's competitiveness through innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives by promoting the development of cluster initiatives in Africa. Specifically it aims at

- Facilitating mainstreaming of innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives in future business and private sector development policies, strategies and programmes in Africa.
- Promoting continental and global collaboration and partnerships in the development of cluster industries.
- Providing a platform for knowledge sharing and the building up and expansion of the knowledge base on clusters and cluster based development initiatives in Africa.
- Appraising and strengthening the gains of the 2nd and 3rd conferences in Ghana and Uganda

Nigeria the Host Country

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country the eighth most populous country in the world. It has over 150 million persons composed of more than 250 ethnic groups. The diversity of Nigeria is reflected in its rainbow of creeds and complexions, views and counterviews, stretching from the fringes of the desert in the North to the Atlantic water in the South.

The economy of Nigeria is one of the fastest growing in the world, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a growth of 9% in 2008 and 8.3% in 2009. International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also announced that Nigeria is the third fastest growing economy in the world after China and India, as a result of the increase in the rate of growth of the nation's economy from 6.9 per cent in 2009 to 7.4 per cent in 2010. It is the third largest economy in Africa, and also the largest exporter of oil in Africa.

Contact:

Dr. Sebastian.C,OBASI
Secretary PACF-Nigeria/ECOWAS
sebcobasi@yahoo.com

14 November 2011