The Economic and Financial Press Forum calls for greater synergy between multilateral institutions
Le forum tenu sur deux jours a été présidé, au nom du ministre ivoirien des Finances par son représentant, Gondo Diomandé
The second edition of the Economic and Financial Press Forum opened on March 24 in Abidjan around the theme: “The challenges of sustainable development and health”. The two-day forum was chaired on behalf of the Ivorian Minister of Finance by his representative, Gondo Diomandé. He stressed “the importance of making economic information available to African populations”.
Michel Russel Lohoré, promoter of the Forum, underlined the determination of his organization to “give back to the economic press its full place in Africa, because the creation of the Forum of the economic and financial press responds to a desire to contribute to the economic development of Africa. »
The challenges of the theme were posed by Professor Abdoulaye Seck of the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, who insisted on the ecological and environmental aspects of sustainable development and its developments since the Brundtland report. As the keynote speaker, he mentioned “the effects of Covid-19 which have negated (Africa’s) economic gains of the last two decades”
“Of ten countries most vulnerable to climate change, nine are in Africa, the continent that contributes very little to greenhouse gases. he remarked. The COP27 which will be organized in Egypt should be used to better support the African perspective. Strengthening the involvement of the private sector and the financial sector in the green economy, “greening monetary policy” should, among other things, help to better reconcile the environment and economic activities, he concluded.
The disruptive effect of Covid-19 on economies has put the construction of health resilience back on the priority agenda through the strengthening of health systems in Africa and drug production capacities.
Koffi Ange Houngbedji, health analyst at the African Development Bank, discussed the importance of human capital in Africa and the efforts made by the Bank to support African countries from the onset of the pandemic and support for the establishment of real production capacities on the continent. This Covid-19 health crisis, he pointed out, has updated health as one of the priorities that the Bank wants to develop on the continent. He explained that the Bank has just adopted its 2022 – 2030 strategy for quality health infrastructure in Africa which, for sure, will contribute to strengthening the health system on the continent. This strategy complements the efforts of other partners and will strengthen diagnostic capacities on the continent, contribute to the development of secondary, tertiary and specialty infrastructures in Africa.
Drawing lessons from the health crisis, the West African Development Bank has set up a health sector department. “It is about supporting the development of the health sector by making resources as concessional as possible because, without human capital, it is impossible to claim emerging economies. added Emmanuel Barry, its director of the Health, Education and Real Estate Department.
The importance of renewable energies in development was underlined by Dr Tshepelayi Kabata, technical adviser to the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa which finances a solar energy project in Guinea Bissau and an electric car production project in the Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Other speakers indicated that the development of the continent must go through a reform of the Economic Partnership Agreements and investment agreements, for a win-win partnership. The role and place of citizens must be increased in terms of economic governance and public policies, said Dr Gwenaelle Otando, president of the Association for the Promotion of Citizen Expertise and Solidarity.
But the strong message of the Forum is the call for actors (multilateral institutions, civil society, private sector, media) to develop better synergy for the sustainable development of the continent.
Thus for Oumar Baldé, editor-in-chief of Medi1 Tv, there needs to be a better articulation between the strategies of the institutions and the realities of development on the ground. “Africa must trust Africa,” he said. Echoing this, Idriss Linge of the Ecofin Agency insisted on the representations conveyed about Africa: “The narrative about Africa must change, because the continent has enough wealth to contribute effectively to sustainable development, but unfavorable economic relations put him in a bad position”.
The Economic Press Forum is supported by institutions including, among others, the African Development Bank, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the West African Development Bank, the Central Bank of East African States West, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Africa 50.
Distributed by APO Group for African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
SOURCE: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
