South African President Jacob Zuma has called on Africans – including those in the diaspora – “to accept” that their continent was changing for the better and “was open for business”.

“Africa is rising, and the signs are there for all to see,” Zuma said to the Pan African Students Association of Princeton University in New Jersey, US on Sunday.

“Africa is indeed open for business.”

He said the global business sector “must grab the opportunity” and reap the rewards of this growth in a manner that promotes inclusive growth, and creates decent work for Africans.

Zuma said Africans “must release themselves from the shackles of self-doubt and celebrate these new developments”.

Zuma, who is in the US attending the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, said Africa was “fast achieving peace and stability”.

Nearly two thirds of governments in Africa are democratically elected, compared with just eight in 1991.

“The spread of peace and good governance is providing Africa’s entrepreneurs with the necessary conducive environment to promote themselves and establish their industries,” said Zuma.

In 2013, the African continent committed the African Union to the 50-year vision called Agenda 2063, which outlines the vision of building effective institutions, enhancing accountability, strengthening solidarity and integration, gender equality and peace and security.

Zuma said in 2050, the continent will be home to one in five of the planet’s young people and will have the world’s largest workforce of 1.2-billion.

By then one in four workers in the world will be African, compared to one in eight from China, reversing today’s balance.

“It is therefore very important to us that as the Pan African Student Association, you have sought to find out more about the continent and its new drive towards sustainable development, peace and prosperity,” said Zuma.

“We need Africans to stop being pessimistic about their continent, and to be the leading spokespersons and ambassadors”.