During a working visit to the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Tunis on 3rd May 2013 , Nizir Baraka, Moroccan Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the AfDB Board of Governors, welcomed the support of the Bank to his country's quest for green growth.

In his words, the AfDB is the country's leading partner. «The Institution works hand in hand with us and is the driving force of our economy towards green growth,» he said.

Baraka urged the AfDB to assert its role as leader in Africa's development before making an assessment of the state of progress of the preparations of the AfDB Annual Meetings to be held in Marrakech, Morocco from the 27th to 31st May 2013. « These meetings will be a turning point for Africa,» he concluded.

The President of the AfDB, Donald Kaberuka, welcoming the minister expressed satisfaction about the commendable relations between the Institution and his country, and laid emphasis on the volume and quality of the country's portfolio, making Morocco the Institution's leading client in the past years.

Baraka found the theme of the Annual Meetings, "Africa's structural transformation", to be very pertinent "for our continent poised to play a primal role worldwide." According to the Chairman of the Board of Governors, discussions on this subject will help illustrate best practices and define the modalities required for this transformation.

He expressed satisfaction about the remarkable enthusiasm surrounding the Annual Meetings which will be a "turning point for Africa." Addressing the Board of Directors, Baraka acknowledged the excellent financial results of the Bank and its initiative to establish an infrastructure fund.

The AfDB is the lead donor in Morocco with operations focused on infrastructure, human development, governance and energy.