AFRICAN DELEGATES HAIL DIALOGUE IN EMPOWERING PEOPLE

By Choong En Han

PUTRAJAYA, June 18 (Bernama) -- African leaders and delegates hailed the
Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) for empowering the people through smart
partnerships and helping to transform economies in the continent.

They said African nations have incorporated the smart partnership concept
when enacting development policies to bring about equitable benefits to their
citizens.

They were also impressed with the feverish pace of development seen in
Putrajaya, the federal administrative capital.

They hope to hear the message of transformation from Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak in his keynote address at the opening of the three-day LID
here Sunday.

"To me, this year's LID is going to be unique as it is the first time the
dialogue is being held outside Langkawi. I believe the dialogue will serve as a
great platform to not only for the development initiatives of Malaysia but to
also see and feel them," said Nigerian delegate Dagogo Opunabo Sele.

Sele, one of Nigeria's youth delegates, is currently pursuing his Masters in
Business Administration at the Segi University College in Kuala Lumpur.

"The youth delegates chosen this time are in line with the government's new
vision to empower students in the real world, and not just be confined to the
classroom," he told Bernama.

Mpho Mofolo, from Lesotho, also applauded the LID organisers for the smooth
arrangement and excellent logistics it had carried out for the delegates, and
particularly, commended the International Media Centre.

"The smart partnership is a good idea and it provides a platform for the
South-South countries to communicate with one another. African countries can
learn a lot from Malaysia, especially in terms of technology and innovation,"
said the reporter attached to the National Radio of Lesotho.

An exhibitor at the business forum and exhibition being held in conjunction
with LID, Francis Okokon Effiong, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad's call on the people, not to be too nationalistic but focus on
mutually-beneficial relationships, struck a chord with him.

"We need not be too nationalistic in terms of pursuing our own
development goals but should think about establishing a good relationship with
our neighbours and achieve a win-win situation," he said.

He called on Malaysia to give Africans studying in the country, a chance to
work and also offer more openings for internships and apprenticeship programmes.

Effiong is currently a marketing executive for Lim Kok Wing University and
is tasked with recruiting students in Africa, while pursuing his Masters.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who arrived today for LID 2011, said his
country had benefitted immensely from the series of dialogues both in Langkawi
and Southern Africa.

He said Zimbabwe had capitalised on the ideas and principle of smart
partnership, in charting its programmes and policies by harnessing the
principle.

The principle is harnessed through governance, community development, the
private sector and information in charting policies and programmes to ensure
maximum participation in development strides, he added.

-- BERNAMA