ECA gears up for Sixth session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, 31 March - 2 April 1997

Abstract

Some 30 African Ministers of Finance and 20 Governors of African Central Banks are to meet top-level policy makers from the world's major financial institutions in Addis Ababa, Headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 31 March to 2 April 1997, in a ground-breaking conference designed to enable Africa's financial sector play a more dynamic role in the mobilization of domestic and external resources to support the region's development process. Within the theme of "Financial Sector Preforms and Debt Management" perhaps one of the most important items on the agenda is the role of multilateral institutions in African development for the remainder of the millennium and beyond. They have come to assume pivotal positions as suppliers of development finance, advisors to African Governments and reference points for donor funding for Africa. The Conference will take stock and examine the future role of those institutions as regards Africa's effort to achieve sustainable development, reduce poverty and participate fully in a globalized and liberalized economy.