Thirty-eighth session of the Commission/Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Opening Speech by Dr. Maxwell M.
Mkwezalamba 14-15 May 2005 Mr. Chairman The Right Honourable
Ken Nnamani, President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria It is a great honour and privilege for me this morning to deliver a statement on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Professor Alpha Oumar Konare, at this important Thirty-Eighth Session of the Commission/Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, whose theme is "Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa". His Excellency Professor Konare would have loved to attend this Conference in person. But owing to other engagements, it has not been possible. He, therefore, conveys his fraternal greetings and wishes the Conference great success. On behalf of the Chairperson and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to thank sincerely the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) for inviting the AU Commission to address and attend this important Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The AU Commission does not take this invitation for granted. Rather, it views it as a strong indication of the close and cordial working relationship that exists between our two organizations. Let me also thank the Government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to our delegation in this beautiful city of Abuja. Mr. Chairman Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen The adoption of the Millennium Declaration and the MDGs by the United Nations Assembly in September 2000 was a determination and commitment by the International Community to fight poverty, accelerate human development and address the integration of the developing world, particularly Africa, into the global economy. The re-affirmation of the MDGs in subsequent international conferences such as the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development in March 2002 and the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002, were further indications of the determination and commitment. This determination and commitment has also been shown by our African Heads of State and Government in many ways, including their adoption of the Millennium Declaration and the MDGs and ensuring that Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSs) of their countries become more and more MDG-based. You may also recall that a Decision was taken by African Heads of State and Government during their Summit in January this year, here in Abuja, Nigeria, requesting the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the ECA, the African Development Bank (ADB) and Regional Economic Communities to prepare an African Common Position (ACP) on the review of the MDGs to be presented to the United Nations Conference on the MDGs in September 2005. The ACP on the review of the MDGs will be considered by African Heads of State and Government during their next Summit to be held in Sirte, Libya, in July this year. The theme of this Thirty-Eighth Session of the Commission/Conference is very timely and relevant. Africa must review the implementation of the MDGs and define what it will take to achieve the MDGs by 2015 and beyond. This Conference is, therefore, an opportunity for you, Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to review the achievement of the MDGs in Africa and contribute to the development of the African Common Position on the review of the MDGs, as mandated by our Heads of State and Government. The importance of Africa having a Common Position on this review and speaking with one voice during the September 2005 UN Conference need not be over-emphasized. In this regard, it would be critical that recommendations made during this Conference feed into the development of the African Common Position. Mr. Chairman Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen The development of the African Common Position on the review of the MDGs is being undertaken by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the NEPAD Secretariat and in consultation with the ECA, the ADB, the United Nations Development Programme and the RECs. To date, a draft report has been prepared and it has since been examined by a Meeting of African Eminent Personalities and Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance (CAMEF) organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Government of Senegal in Dakar, Senegal, from May 2-3 and May 4-7, 2005, respectively. The draft report has taken into account findings and recommendations of the first national Millennium Development Goals reports produced by some of our African countries, as part of their international commitment to the Millennium Declaration. Mr. Chairman Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen Many of our African countries are unlikely to achieve the MDGs by 2015. For example, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in Africa increased from 44.6 percent in 1990 to 46.5 percent in 2001 and the levels of social development and quality of life remain low: more than 160 million people live in slum - like conditions, primary enrollment rates remain the lowest in the world with gender disparity at the primary level as low as 0.86 and the adult HIV prevalence rate is the world's highest at 7.5%. Although Africa is said to be off-track in achieving the MDGs, there is still a chance for it to meet the MDGs. This will be the case if African governments remain fully committed to doing so, and Development Partners live up to their long standing commitments in the areas of Official Development Aid (ODA) and trade, among others. The African Union Commission believes that the MDGs are within reach and that with additional efforts and resources, Africa can achieve the MDGs. At the same time, it is acknowledged that there are several challenges to achieving the MDGs in Africa, including ensuring peace and security, fostering good political and economic governance, tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other diseases, breaking the poverty-demographic trap and achieving gender equality and empowering women. Mr. Chairman Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen I will fail in my duty if I do not address the recently held Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance (CAMEF) and the need for us to rationalize and better coordinate the holding of our meetings. As pointed out earlier, the Conference was organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Government of Senegal. The Conference discussed and made recommendations for the consideration of the African Union Summit to be held in Sirte, Libya, in July this year on four important issues: the African Common Position on the review of the implementation of the MDGs in Africa, Africa's debt problem, the Commission for Africa Report and alternative financing for the African Union. The conclusions and recommendations of the Conference may be accessed on the African Union Commission website: www.africa-union.org. While it is appreciated that the many daunting economic challenges facing Africa require that, among other things, our Ministers of Economy and Finance meet regularly to find solutions to them, the Ministers cannot afford to attend too many meetings of this nature owing to time and budgetary constraints. These sentiments were also expressed by the Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance held in Dakar, Senegal. Within the last two months, for example, there have been at least three major meetings requiring the participation of our Ministers of Economy and Finance: the Meeting of Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors held in Maputo, Mozambique, in March; the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings held in Washington, D.C. in April; and the Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance held in Dakar, Senegal, last week. Thus, by the time this Conference finishes, African Ministers of Economy and Finance will have attended at lease four major meetings within the last two and half months. The African Union Commission is, therefore, of the view that these meetings and conferences ought to be rationalized and better coordinated. In this regard, it will, on its part, liaise and work closely with the ECA and other similar organizations. Mr. Chairman Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen With this few remarks, I once again wish to thank, on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the ECA for organizing this important Conference and inviting the African Union Commission to participate, and the Government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to our delegation. I thank you for your attention and wish you fruitful deliberations. |
