From SANews.gov in AllAfrica.

This is the Year of Women Empowerment and Development at the 25th African Union Summit underway at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

South Africa is hosting an A.U. summit for the first time since the body was officially transformed from the Organisation of African Unity to the A.U. in Durban in 2002.

Topics for discussion at the summit will include socioeconomic development, peace and security, infrastructure development, health and human development.

Intra-Africa trade is expected to take center stage at the summit.

Zuma said the A.U. would work together with the BRICS New Development Bank and other institutions to achieve Africa’s goals. He emphasized the importance of Africa adding value to its mineral resources within the continent.

“As leaders we have agreed that we can no longer have our mineral resources processed outside the continent. All our resources should be processed here in Africa to fully benefit our people,” he said.

Zuma kicked off the A.U. Summit program by participating in the A.U. Presidential Golf Challenge, which aims to raise funds for the A.U. Foundation.

Read more at AllAfrica.