Opening statement Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea to the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa, and the Chair of the thirty-ninth meeting of the Committee of Experts of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the Economic Commission for Africa, Crisantos Obama Ondo

Abstract

Opening statement by Crisantos Obama Ondo, Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea to the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa, and the Chair of the thirty-ninth meeting of the Committee of Experts of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the Economic Commission for Africa. Mr. Ondo, on his remarks highlighted that, ECA continued to provide a platform for senior government officials, especially ministers of finance and economic planning, to deliberate on issues pertaining to African development financing and debt management, among other topics. It also continued to advocate for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for Africa, including its support for the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team. The Commission underlined the importance of strengthening the statistical capacities of member States. This culminated in the development of implementation guidelines for the Global Statistical Geospatial Framework in Africa and supporting selected member States on their e-census issues. The growing financing gap stems from various sources, including difficulties in mobilizing resources domestically and externally.