The Regional Consultations on the African Development Bank's Long Term Strategy (LTS) for the Eastern Africa region began on 14 March 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This was the first in the series of planned regional consultations seeking to solicit the views of ministers and senior officials of governments, the African Union Commission, the United Economic Commission for Africa and representatives of the private sector to guide the preparation of the Bank's LTS for 2013-2022.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Erastus Mwencha, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission and Mr Gabriel Negatu, Director, Eastern African Regional Countries. In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Dr Abraham Tekeste, Ethiopia's state minister of finance and economic development thanked the Bank for this timely initiative and the participatory approach adopted to ensure wide ownership of the proposed Bank strategy. He emphasized the significance of the LTS, considering that Africa is emerging as a new growth frontier, and in view of the challenges and opportunities for achieving inclusive growth that will be required to generate productive jobs as well as meet the aspirations of the African people.

Participants emphasized the need for the Bank to continue its role in financing key growth drivers, particularly infrastructure, regional integration and private sector development. Recognizing the rapidly changing global landscape, they also urged the Bank to support industrialization and ICT and enhance its catalytic role in mobilizing resources to enable the continent respond effectively to its development challenges. The Bank's pivotal role in promoting good governance was also emphasized. The Bank was urged to become more agile and innovative in providing differentiated responses the challenges of its clients, recognizing the diversity of the Regional Member Countries.

The event attracted wide publicity and media coverage. Other members of the Bank's team at these consultations were Mr Kupukile Mlambo, Director, OREB; Mr Steve Kayizzi-Mugerwa, Director EDRE; Mr Lamin Barrow, ETFO Resident Representative; and Mr Peter Mwanakatwe, Chief Country Economist, ETFO. Mr Henok Kifle, a member of the High Level Panel, also participated as a resource person.

Contacts

Lamin Barrow