1. Bissau
Economic
Forum
2013
What would
Cabral do?
Laying the foundation
for Guinea Bissau’s
economic transformation
1-2 Febuary 2013
Bissau, Guinea Bissau
INSTITUTO BENTEN
CENTRO DE transformação estrategica e liderança
2. What Would
Cabral Do ?
Laying the Foundation
for Guinea Bissau’s
Economic Transformation.
The first edition of the Bissau Economic economy, to build a national consensus and
Forum (FEB) will be held from 1 to 2 define how best to implement it.
February, 2013. The event will be a platform
for dialogue and cooperation between The year 2013 is significant because it marks
business, civil society and the public sector. the fortieth anniversary of the unilateral
Initiated by the Benten Instituto (founded by declaration of independence by Guinea
Paulo Gomes), the Amilcar Cabral Institute, Bissau and the death of the country’s
Action for Development (AD), this event founding father, Amilcar Cabral. Cabral
aims to launch the process of rethinking and many of his companions paid dearly
development in Guinea Bissau. The 2013 in the struggle for emancipation. Contrary
Forum will focus on economic transformation to the ideal held by heroes and heroines of
and is designed to allow Bissau-Guineans its liberation, Guinea Bissau has witnessed
to initiate a strategic dialogue about the future of the many crises. Development objectives have
become more elusive as poverty, disease,
conflict and insecurity have been endemic.
In view of these facts, it is necessary to
make progress. The responsibility for Bissau
Guineans is a collective one. The challenges
the country faces can only be met through
united efforts to generate a better future.
This is in line with the Cabralist “bottom-up”
philosophy. Bissau-Guineans must define
together a new national agenda that fits the
current national, regional and global context.
The Bissau Economic Forum will initiate this
process through asking “what would Cabral
do?”
3. Senegal Farim
Gabú
Cacheu Oio Bafatá
Bafatá Gabú
Guinea-Bissau
Biombo Bissau
Boé
Quinara
Bolama
Tombali Guinea
Bolama
Population: Poverty Ratio: Total value of
imports:
1,547 million 55.2%
US$200 million
GDP per Capita: (2006 estimate)
Total value of
US$629 exports:
Primary imports-
US$133 million commodities:
GDP Growth: (2006 estimate)
Foodstuffs, machinery and
5.3% transport equipment,
Primary exports- petroleum products
commodities:
Life Expectancy:
Cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, Primary
48 palm kernels, import partners:
sawn lumber
Portugal (17.33% of total
Income Level:
imports); Senegal (13,66%);
Primary Netherlands (9.27%); India
Low
export partners: (9.11%); Thailand (5.25); Brazil
India (62.21% of total exports); (4.49%)
Nigeria (31.28%); Portugal
(1.48%)
4. 2. Why a Bissau
Economic Forum ?
Guinea Bissau is now one of the poorest impassable during the rainy season. The
countries in the world despite its abundant Port of Bissau is already handling over four
natural resources, fertile arable land and times more cargo than its operating capacity
temperate climate. The country is heavily allows, as about 85% of the nation’s exports
reliant on foreign aid and suffers from a and 90% of its imports pass through the
significant level of poverty (55.2% in 2012). port in Bissau.
The population has one of the highest
mortality rates and lowest life expectancies Despite the challenging circumstances,
in the world. The average citizen lives Guinea Bissau is expected to experience
approximately 48 years. Levels of education growth over the short to medium term
are very low – only 46 and 17% of students of around 6% between 2011 and 2015.
finished primary and secondary school, This provides an important platform for
respectively, in 2006. job creation and future developmental
prospects. While conditions are challenging,
The economy is based primarily on there is also significant potential for economic
agriculture and fisheries, which represent transformation through exploitation of
about 46% of GDP. Cashew nuts are the agricultural potential and movement up the
key cash crop (95% of total exports in 2009) agro-processing value chain. The mining
but the country has made little progress sector must finally be provided with the
in moving up the value-chain through clarity that is needed to become a key
processing and packaging. Guinea-Bissau’s contributor to economic transformation.
imports consist mainly of consumer and Additionally, the country must begin the
capital goods. Commodities such as rice, process of generating high value added
flour and sugar represent 60% of imports ecotourism around its unique topography
while oil represents around 30%. The ecology and geography. Linked to these are
country is therefore faced with a high trade the transversal efforts that will be needed to
deficit. build basic infrastructure, support education,
promote technical and vocational training,
Tax revenue is low, at about 10% of GDP. and create an environment that is conducive
Much of the nation’s social infrastructure to business.
remains underdeveloped, and only 20% of
the population has access to electricity. Only Regionally, Guinea Bissau is also
10% of the nation’s 4,380km of roads are strategically located and has huge potential
paved and floods make most of the roads to leverage opportunities within West Africa
5.
6. and beyond. Demand is growing with the CFE is changing the way business is done
rise of the middle-class in countries such and has boosted Guinea-Bissau’s Doing
as Ghana, and Guinea Bissau has close ties Business ranking in recent years. Although
with Nigeria, soon to be the largest economy there is still a long way to go, Guinea-Bissau
on the continent. The possibilities in terms is one of the 10 most improved economies in
of joint economic synergies are significant- Africa this year. In addition to combining all
hydro-power production across the Gambia essential services to start a business under
river basin, for example, could produce one roof, CFE reform has also reduced the
almost 1/6th of regional electricity needs business registration procedures from 17 to
and produce thousands of jobs for Bissau 9 and the time to register from 216 days to 9
Guineans. days. Similarly, the cost to start a business
fell from about 183% of GNI per capita to
Structural reforms will be critical. These are about 50%. The result is that Guinea Bissau
already underway with support of international advanced 44 places in the ease of starting
partners as the recent establishment of the a business ranking, moving to the 148th
Center for the Formalization of Enterprises position.
(CFE) indicates. All essential services for the
creation of a business are now under the CFE,
including notarization of company statutes,
registration at the Commercial Registry,
assignment of a tax identification number,
and collection of all relevant work permits
and licenses.. The implementation of the
7. Similarly financial and technical support in can be further supported in the country
the agricultural sector has yielded positive and how best to make that transformation
results in recent years. A report by the a reality. This Forum will begin to set the
World Bank indicates that the regions of agenda. It will outline what can be done to
the country supported through a food extend and deepen the nascent reforms
security project are turning the corner. In to ensure sustained growth and realize
Camposa and Finete, two villages located economic transformation. It will launch a
in the Bafata region, rice production has platform for an on-going dialogue on the
increased. With the interventions, farmers economy and how best to transform the
in Camposa increased their production from potential of the country. It will set an agenda
2,600 kilograms per hectar to 4,200 while in for economic change, which will include
Finete production went from 700 kilograms agreement on priorities, definition of core
to 1,800 kilograms without any fertilizer. objectives, identification of key reforms and
preliminary ideas for over-arching strategies.
These examples are an indication of what is
possible in Guinea Bissau when the relevant
ideas and reforms are marshaled for positive
economic change. The major questions,
therefore, are what kind of transformation
8. 3. What Shape will
the Forum take?
The Forum will facilitate dialogue to reach Facilitators will ease discussions, raise key
consensus. It will consist of plenary sessions issues and focus interventions.
and thematic workshops. The plenaries will
be used to introduce major themes and The Diaspora will be engaged in the Forum
generate discussion around key issues while through social media.
the workshops will be used to focus greater
attention on core concerns and provide
answers to specific thematic questions or
issues.
4. Who will
Participate?
The Forum will include around 150 labor representatives; civic leaders; relevant
participants from Guinea Bissau and public sector bodies such as the Bissau
beyond. The aim is to engage all key Chamber of Commerce; and youth groups.
stakeholders with ideas for rebuilding and In addition to national stakeholders,
transforming the economy of Guinea Bissau the Forum organizers will also invite
including the private sector; academics representatives of international public and
and researchers; entrepreneurs; investors; private sectors.
9. 5. How will the Forum
Generate Follow-up?
The first edition of the Forum is only the partners. Following each forum, summary
beginning of a process and is expected to recommendations will be published, policy
be part of an on-going dialogue. The Forum dialogues organized, and joint projects
will become an annual event organized by initiated among both the public and private
the Benten Institute, the Amilcar Cabral sectors.
Institute, AD (Action for Development) and other
10. 6. Agenda
Friday 1st of February, 2013
10:00 – 17:00 Registration
18:00 – 19:30 Networking Cocktail
Saturday 2nd of February, 2013
08:30 – 09:00 Introduction and opening speech by the PM
09:00 – 11:30 Plenary Session 1: Guinea-Bissau in the context
of regional integration and globalization
11:30 – 12:15 Plenary Session 2: What strategy for economic
and social transformation?
12:15 – 13:00 Plenary Session 3: Public-private partnership
and international cooperation
15h00 – 18h30 Thematic working groups
18h30 – 19h15 Closing session
20h00 – 23h00 Dinner and cultural entertainment
Sunday 3rd of February, 2013
09h00 – 18h00 Visit to the Bijagos Islands (optional)
12. Bissau
Economic
Forum
L’Institut Benten est une institution de droit privé, indépendante et apolitique, fondée
en 2012 par Paulo Gomes. L’Institut constitue un laboratoire d’idées, et vise à créer
un espace de dialogue, de réflexion et d’élaboration de propositions concrètes afin
de contribuer à la définition d’une vision nationale consensuelle sur la transformation
économique de la Guinée-Bissau, et à la réalisation d’un avenir meilleur pour le pays.
The Benten Institute is a private, independent and apolitical institution founded in 2012
by Paulo Gomes. The Institute is a think tank and aims to create a platform for dialogue,
reflection and elaboration of concrete policy proposals. The overarching goal is to
contribute to the definition of a national consensual vision on Guinea-Bissau’s economic
and social transformation.
O Instituto Benten e uma instituicao de direito privado, independente e sem fins politicos
fundado em 2012 por Paulo Gomes. é um Think Thank que visa criar uma plataforma de
dialogo, reflexão e elaboracão de propostas concretas com o objectivo de ajudar a definir
um consenso nacional para transformacao economica e social do Pais.
INSTITUTO BENTEN
CENTRO DE transformação estrategica e liderança
Rua n°1 - Bissau Velho - Bissau / Republica da Guine Bissau
