By Bennie Mundando
The 53rd Session of the Commission and Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM 2021) of the United Nations Commission Economic Commission for Africa opened today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Zambia is being presented by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Development Planning, the Central Bank and Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, His Excellency Emmanuel Mwamba.
The meeting with the theme; “Africa’s sustainable industrialisation and diversification in the digital era in the context of Covid-19”, is being held as a hybrid where Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives based in Addis Ababa are attending in person while Ministers and Central Bank Governors from member states are attending virtually.
The opening ceremony featured Dr. Abby Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley.
Others expected to speak at the Conference include; World Health Organisation Director General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima and Vera Songwe, United Nations Under Secretary for the ECA.
The meeting is expected to tackle among other things, the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, the financing of Covid-19 vaccines, and the efforts to manage debt and liquidity in Africa.
The Meeting will also hold high-level policy dialogue on the year’s theme.
The session is being held with the theme embracing the need for African countries to achieve rapid economic growth through environmentally conscious industrialization and diversification, while taking advantage of digitalization.
This is contained in a statement made available to The Scoop by First Secretary for Press and Tourism) at the Zambia Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Inutu Mupango Mwanza.
