Africa a 'huge market' for European firms: Polish PM
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
18.12.2018 15:50
The Polish prime minister on Tuesday spoke in favour of closer business ties with Africa, which he said, with its 1.2 billion residents, was a “huge market” for European companies.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki briefs reporters during the Africa-Europe High-Level Forum in Vienna on Tuesday. Photo: PAP/Andrzej Lange
Speaking during a business conference in Vienna, Austria, Mateusz Morawiecki described his country's trade with Africa as insufficient.
Morawiecki was among officials from more than 20 countries taking part in the Africa-Europe High-Level Forum conference in the Austrian capital.
Morawiecki said that increased trade with non-European countries was an important part of his government’s policy of sustainable development.
As part of this policy, Poland has granted loans to several African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and Angola, Morawiecki said.
He added that Poland exported not only goods—such as food, machinery, and advanced IT technology—but also know-how to Africa.
Morawiecki also said that trade between European and African countries should benefit both parties, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
“Only in this way will we guarantee a safe and peaceful future for Africa," he was quoted as saying.
Morawiecki told reporters that closer relations with Africa were important for the European Union's migration policy as they could help "reduce migration pressure from Africa to Europe," Poland's PAP news agency reported.
Poland’s foreign minister said this month that his country aimed to step up its presence in Africa.
(gs/pk)
Source: TVP Info, IAR/PAP