The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group holds its 2013 Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco, from 27 to 31 May 2013.

More than 2,500 delegates including finance ministers, central bank governors and CEOs from the institution's 78 member countries will participate in the meetings.

Organised on the theme, "Africa's Structural Transformation," the gathering will review the Bank's 2012 operations and its 2013 development funding portfolio, as well as challenges facing the African region in key areas such as climate change, infrastructure, private sector and governance.

The AfDB is Africa's premier development finance institution established in 1964 to mobilise resources for the economic and social development of its 54 regional (African) member countries by focusing on poverty reduction and promoting sustainable growth. The Bank approved 3,661 loans and grants totaling UA 60.06 billion (about $US 92.57 billion) to the RMCs from 1967 to 31st December 2011.

Delegates representing other multilateral finance institutions, development agencies, private sector chief executives, non-governmental and civil society organisations as well as the media will also attend the meetings. Key decisions about the Bank Group are made at these meetings.

From 27 May, there will be a series of high-level seminars and other side events on the continent's economic, social and political situations, and how they can be leveraged to accelerate the continent's transformation.

The Bank believes that "Structural transformation cannot take place without investment in infrastructure, agriculture, skills training and education and broader engagement with the private sector."

Morocco hosted the Annual Meetings in 1974, in Rabat.