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14 January 2009

Finance Minister Trevor A Manuel, Member of Parliament, will host a press conference this Friday about the meeting of the Committee of Ten African Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Joining the Minister at the press conference will be the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Donald Kaberuka, Commissioner for Economic Affairs at the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr Maxwell Mkwezalamba and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Mr Abdoulie Janneh.

The Committee will meet in Cape Town to discuss the current global financial crisis and its impact on Africa. It will also address priority issues for the continent and develop a forward work programme which will be presented to Heads of State at the African Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa in early February 2009.

The Committee of Ten was convened by the heads of the AfDB, AUC and UNECA, following a meeting of African Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in November 2008 in Tunis. The meeting agreed upon the establishment of the Committee to develop an African response to the global financial crisis and issues on the G20 agenda.

Serving on the Committee are Finance Ministers from South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon and Tanzania, as well as Central Bank Governors representing Botswana, Kenya, Algeria, West African States and Central African States. South Africa serves as Chair of the first meeting of the Committee this year.

Date: Friday, 16 January 2009
Time: 14h00
Venue: Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, Level B2

To confirm your attendance please contact:
Thoraya Pandy
Cell: 082 416 8416

Lindani Mbunyuza
Cell: 083 327 9987

Issued by: National Treasury
14 January 2009