Mr Speaker, hon members, the election of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma heralds a new era for the continent, as it is the first time that the AU Commission will be led by a woman. The AU, therefore, has affirmed its resolution to make this a decade for women. Minister Dlamini-Zuma has also made history by being the first chairperson from the SADC region. We congratulate her on her election.
Hon members, as a loyal member of the AU, South Africa will play its role and provide support to make the institution successful in its programmes of promoting unity, peace, stability, prosperity and democracy on the continent. Dr Dlamini-Zuma has identified some priorities for the continent during her tenure, in which we will support her, and they are: eradicating poverty and conflicts; building sustainable economies through infrastructure to promote intra-Africa trade, among others; consolidating democracy and good governance in our respective countries; promoting education, health, shelter and job creation; accelerating our integration in all spheres with regional economic communities, RECs, as the building blocks; and advancing and defending the interests of Africa in global affairs.
With regard to promoting economic development, there are some emerging positive trends that position Africa as the next big investment frontier over the next 50 years. Africa is the third fastest growing region after Asia and the Middle East. We will support the AU in taking advantage of these opportunities to further promote regional integration and the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Nepad.
Currently, moves are afoot to ensure a successful integration of the Common Market of East and Southern Africa, Comesa, the East African Community and SADC, which bring together a market of more than 600 million people. With regard to infrastructure development, South Africa chairs the Nepad Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative.
We have been tasked with championing the North-South Road and Rail Development Corridor projects, which will extend from Cape Town and Durban to Cairo. Work will also continue to strengthen the co-operation of Regional Economic Communities to ensure success. At a political level we will play our role in promoting the voice of the continent in world affairs and to eradicate the interference in African affairs that we witnessed, particularly last year, in the cases of Libya and Cte d'Ivoire.
We will also assist with capacity-building and any other support the AU will require to achieve its objectives. Thank you.