ECA Media Advisory No. 12/2005

Over 30 ministers to attend Abuja meeting

Addis Ababa, 6 May 2005 - The 38th Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development gets underway in Abuja, Nigeria, next week with some 49 ministers and central bank governors having so far confirmed their attendance.

The meeting, to be held from 14-15 May, is likely to produce lively discussions on why sub-Saharan Africa is lagging behind in meeting the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015.

Debates will focus on reasons for the sluggish pace of development and what can be done, in terms of strategies and resources, to improve the situation.

There will also be an analysis of the first joint report by the ECA and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looking into the effectiveness of aid.

So far, 33 ministers and 16 governors have given written confirmation of their intention to take part in the conference.

It is to be recalled that the conference will be immediately preceded by a preparatory experts’ meeting, and followed by the annual gathering of the African Development Bank at which a new president will be elected.

For more information visit the “Conference of Ministers” website at
http://www.uneca.org/conferenceofministers/2005/
or contact:
Corinne Archer, Communication Officer, UNECA
Tel: +251 1 443488
Email: carcher@uneca.org

Issued by the ECA Communication Team
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: +251-1-44-58-26
Fax: +251-1-51-03-65
Email: ecainfo@uneca.org
Web: www.uneca.org