- Title: 20 bln. USD of African debt written off - Putin at Sochi summit
- Date: 23rd October 2019
- Summary: SOCHI, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (RUSSIAN POOL) PLENARY SESSION OF RUSSIA-AFRICA FORUM IN PROGRESS ATTENDANTS OF THE FORUM PHOTOGRAPHING BY CELLPHONES RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SHAKING HANDS WITH HEADS OF STATE FROM AFRICAN CONTINENT PLENARY SESSION IN PROGRESS VLADIMIR PUTIN TAKING STAGE TO MAKE SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "(OVER SHOTS OF AUDIENCE, STAGE) Russia is one of the top ten largest suppliers of food to the African market. We export more agricultural products to the markets of third countries than weapons. Weapons amount to around 15 billion dollars (CONTINUES IN SHOT) while I think agricultural supplies make up about 25 billion dollars. So, we have good growth potential, there is something to talk about." VLADIMIR PUTIN TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "(OVER SHOTS OF AUDIENCE, STAGE) Our country is taking part in an initiative to ease the debt burden on African countries. The total sum of debt written off currently amounts to 20 billion dollars. Along with several other countries, joint programmes to put debts towards financing national economic growth have been launched." ATTENDANTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "Gazprom, Rosneft, Lukoil are implementing promising oil and gas projects on the continent. Alrosa is launching mining operations at diamond deposits. Yandex, which operates on a number of markets, is assisting African countries (OVER SHOTS OF AUDIENCE) with issues surrounding information security and developing the digital economy. Rosatom is prepared to help our African partners in creating a nuclear industry, (CONTINUES IN SHOT) on a turnkey basis, the construction of research centres based on multifunctional reactors." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING EGYPT PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI TAKING STAGE TO MAKE SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPT PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "(OVER SHOTS OF AUDIENCE) Ladies and gentlemen, Africa is stepping into a new phase of its economic development, (CONTINUES IN SHOT) linked to a new opportunities of the markets. Industrial potential (OVER SHOTS OF AUDIENCE) and digitalization of Africa is on increase which is a result of creative efforts of our nations and the policy of the states that encourage the aspiration of the people." AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPT PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICCIAL TRANSLATION): "(OVER SHOTS OF STAGE) Ladies and gentlemen, before finishing my statement, I would like to emphasize (CONTINUES IN SHOT) that cooperation with the African countries should be based on mutual interests and principles of protection of African property that would enable to ensure the sustainable development and meet three key targets. One of them is acceleration of economic transformation in businesslike atmosphere through partnership with private sector, second is social equity with participation of all society". VLADIMIR PUTIN LISTENING EGYPT PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI LEAVING STAGE
- Embargoed: 6th November 2019 11:15
- Keywords: Russia South Africa Putin Sis Egypt Russia-Africa forum
- Location: SOCHI, RUSSIA
- City: SOCHI, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2BIZPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Twenty billion dollars of African debt have been written off as part of an initiative to ease the debt burden on African countries Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Sochi on Wednesday (October 23).
He made the comment while addressing dozens of African heads of state at the plenary session of the Russia-Africa summit with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
He also said that Russia currently ranked as one of the top ten largest suppliers of food to the African market with exports amounting to 25 billion dollars, but that turnover with Africa had good growth potential.
The first Russia-Africa summit is part of a Kremlin drive to win business and restore influence in Africa following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia despatched two nuclear-capable bombers to South Africa on a training mission on Wednesday, a flight that appeared timed to coincide with President Vladimir Putin's opening of the event.
(Production: Tatiana Gomozova) - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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