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President Mbeki to Arrive in Mexico
to Attend the International Conference on Financing
for Development
President Thabo Mbeki arrives in Monterrey Mexico tomorrow
20th March 2002, to attend the United Nations’
International Conference on Financing for Development.
The Government delegation, includes Minister of Finance
Trevor Manuel, the Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism Valli Moosa, and senior officials from other
government departments and parastatals.
The Financing for Development Conference is generally
regarded as an important event in the global campaign
to eradicate poverty and promote economic development.
It is instructive to note that both the World Bank,
IMF and WTO, representatives of civil society and the
business sector also participate in the conference.
The conference will consider a draft document called
"The Monterrey Consensus" which will serve
as a basis for discussions on all aspects of financing
for development. The document also contains proposals
for a regular follow-up review mechanism, building on
the existing annual dialogue between the United Nations
and the Bretton Woods Institutions , but also including
the World Trade Organisation, global business and civil
society.
In this regard, the Heads of State and Government attending
the Conference will, in a special session consider how
to take the process forward and lend impetus to the
proposals on the table.
The conference has a special significance for South
Africa and for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD). Not only will it provide a good
opportunity for presenting the case for NEPAD, for which
financing is a crucial dimension, but the agenda for
the conference has a considerable overlap and thematic
linkage with the WSSD, which will be held in Johannesburg
later this year. A successful outcome of Conference
will therefore augur well for the WSSD.
Acknowledgement of South Africa’s possible contribution
to the Conference is further highlighted by the fact
that the Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor Manuel was appointed
by the United Nations Secretary General as Special Envoy
for the Conference. This appointment, together with
South Africa’s high level participation, will ensure
that South Africa’s interest, together with that
of the developing world, will be promoted and articulated
at this important event.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
19 March 2002
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