DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

PRESS RELEASE N0. 09 / 16th AU SUMMIT
African leaders to be briefed on the progress of NEPAD priority projects

28th January 2011, Addis Ababa – The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) will hold its 24th meeting on the 29th of January 2011, in Addis Ababa, prior to the 16th African Union (AU) Assembly.

Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the NEPAD HSGOC, Mr. Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi and AU Chairperson as well as Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC) will make key-note remarks.

During this edition of the HSGOC, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency will present a report-back on the progress of the Agency in the in the coordination of the implementation of Africa’s priority programmes and projects.

African leaders in attendance at the 24th HSGOC will be briefed on the regional projects that are being pushed for in selected sectors such as agriculture, science and technology, health, education, information and communication technologies and infrastructure.
Of key relevance here, will be the report back on the NEPAD HSGOC high-level sub-committee on infrastructure which is led by Mr. Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa.
All journalists are invited to attend the opening of the 24th NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC). Date: Saturday, 29th of January 2011.
Time: 10:00am-10:40am Venue: Plenary Hall, AUC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

For more information and to arrange for interviews, contact:
Andrew Kanyegirire, NEPAD Agency Communications, Cell: +27-83-704-4506, in Addis Ababa +25192057933 Email: andrewk@nepad.org
About the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency: The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) as the technical body of the African Union, works closely with the African Union Commission (AUC), regional economic communities, national governments, civil society and the private sector to push for programmes and projects that focus on improving the lives of the African people. The NEPAD Agency is the leading African development expert, able to mobilise the private sector, heads of state and African people as a force for positive change, building continental prosperity and regional integration. For more information, go to: www.nepad.org