AUC Chairperson arrives in Abuja for RCM-Africa and Ministers of Economy and Finance conference

Abuja, Nigeria, 27 March, 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma arrives in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday, March 27, 2014 for a series of meetings, including the Seventh Joint Annual Meetings of the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the AU Conference Ministers of Economy and Finance (CAMEF) holding 25-30 March, 2014.

Over 50 Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Economy and Finance are attending the meetings during which they will discuss proposals on the mechanism for implementing options of Alternative Sources of Financing the African Union. Their conclusions will be presented for the consideration of Heads of State and Government when they meet in the next Summit billed for June 2014, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Holding under the theme, “Industrialization for inclusive and transformative development in Africa,” this joint ECA and AU conference of African Ministers is also expected to deliver the following results, amongst others, “a well-articulated documentation of progress in the implementation of the industrialization agenda, as stated under the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA); and policy options and actions required at national, sub-regional and regional levels for AIDA’s implementation geared toward achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa.”

During these meetings, Dr. Dlamini Zuma will deliver opening statements, together with the UNECA Executive Secretary, Dr. Carlos Lopez, and African Development Bank President, Dr. Donald Kaberuka and United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Jan Eliasson. Other guest speakers at the RCM will include President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and President Allassane Ouattara.

A major highlight of the meetings will be a keynote address on the theme of the conference to be delivered by H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr Dlamini Zuma and AUC Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Erastus Mwencha will also be attending the fifteenth session of the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa) of the United Nations agencies and organisations working in Africa in support of the African Union and its NEPAD programme. The RCM-Africa meeting will hold parallel to that of the economy and finance ministers.