There is need to adapt the public/private partnership (PPP) to the economic situation and the culture of a given country to guarantee its success, said Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Adele Paris. •
The official was speaking at a panel discussion on PPP challenges and constraints held Thursday, as part of a seminar on public-private partnership in North Africa for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Adele Paris said the PPP can help countries in the sub-region address climate change. Desalination programmes in Egypt and Morocco are an eloquent illustration, she added.
Political will of governments is of crucial importance along with the establishment of a trust-based public-private partnership.
Director-General of the Deposit and Consignment Fund (French: CDC) Najia Gharbi stressed the key role of such funds in ensuring the success of PPP.
The fund, the State's financial arm, seeks to be a strategic partner of the PPP as it is a key tool to carry out infrastructure projects.
"The State is the major player and initiator of large-scale projects," the official said. Efficiency can only be optimised by an effective contribution from the private sector.
The PPP is not only a framework for action but also a way of intervention with promising results, Gharbi highlighted.
Panellists discussed issues in relation to the development of projects and key factors to attract investors to African PPP.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse