AfDB President Kaberuka Calls On World Leaders to Find Ways to Boost Global Economic Growth

24 January 2013
Content from a Premium Partner
African Development Bank (Abidjan)
press release

The President of the African Development Bank Group, Donald Kaberuka, on Tuesday, January 22, called on world leaders to come together to debate ways to boost global economic growth. Speaking on the eve of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Kaberuka said: "Now more than ever, there is a critical need for leaders from all corners of the world to come together and brainstorm on solutions that will give global economic growth a big push. This time round, the challenge for all of us, is how to ensure that this growth becomes inclusive and sustainable."

On Tuesday, President Kaberuka took part in the International Eminent Persons Panel in Geneva, set up by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to advise as well as help mobilize international support for Nigeria's bold plans to transform its agricultural sector. The Eminent Persons Group included Bill Gates, co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Kofi Annan, Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), among others.

President Kaberuka also met Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe, with whom he discussed the Bank's ongoing support particularly in the water and energy sectors.

On Wednesday, the AfDB President took part in a World Economic Forum panel, which reflected on some of the key issues impacting human development such as fiscal austerity and growing inequalities.

Speaking about the socio-economic progress Africa has made over the past decade, Kaberuka said: "Africa is indeed rising. It has shown remarkable resilience in the face of global financial and economic uncertainty, and it continues to grow. Our communal task is to spur that growth, to mobilize all those that can drive it - from new investors to new entrants onto the African job market - and to ensure that the fruits of Africa's economic growth are shared by all."

On Thursday, January 24, Kaberuka, who is also Chair of the World Economic Council on Africa, will moderate a special working dinner on the theme of "Africa's promise", to be attended by 10 African Heads of State and Government.

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