AfDB’s Donald Kaberuka on official tour to West Africa
President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Donald Kaberuka is on a four-country West African official tour.
His visit begins September 9 and ends September 18, 2012. Countries Dr Kaberuka will be visiting are Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea and Liberia.
A statement from the AfDB says Dr Kaberuka’s visit is to reassure these countries of the continued support of the Bank despite a difficult economic climate.
Dr. Donald Kaberuka, will first travel to Senegal from September 9-11 where he will meet with President Macky Sall, and government officials to discuss cooperation between the country and the AfDB Group.
The statement highlights that while in Senegal, Dr. Kaberuka will meet with the Bank’s technical and financial partners, and visit key infrastructure projects that have benefited from the Bank’s support, including the Dakar-Diamniadio toll highway and the container terminal in the port of Dakar.
From Dakar, President Kaberuka will be in Praia, Cape Verde, to attend the Mid-Term Review of the African Development Fund (ADF), from September 11 to 14. The Fund’s 12th replenishment (ADF-12), valued at close to $9.5 billion for the period of 2011-2013, will be discussed at the meeting.
Dr. Kaberuka will head for Guinea from Cape Verde where, according to the statement, he will stay from September 15-18, at the invitation of the President of the Republic, Alpha Condé. “The visit will enable the AfDB President and his delegation to examine first-hand the progress made in that country since the 2010 elections, and to discuss the best way for the Bank to accompany the country through its process of economic transformation and the reinforcement of its institutions,” it says.
The AfDB President will also meet with the Bank’s technical and financial partners in Guinea prior to meeting with the country’s President of the National Transitional Council and his counterpart from the Economic and Social Council.
The private sector in Guinea will not be overlooked during the visit as the AfDB delegation will meet with operators from the mining and banking sectors, in addition to representatives from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small and medium industries (SMIs).
Dr Kaberuka will end his tour of West Africa in Liberia on September 18. The AfDB President will be received by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and hold discussions with the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Finance and AfDB Governor, Mr. Amara M. Konneh.
On the occasion of his visit, Dr. Kaberuka is expected to inaugurate the Liberia office of the AfDB Group.
By Ekow Quandzie