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MEFMI Combined Forum for Ministers and Secretaries of Finance and Planning and Central Bank Governors. 20th Anniversary Meeting, Washington DC.
On the eve of the World Bank-IMF meetings in Washington DC, central bank governors, finance ministers and reserve managers from Southern and Eastern Africa met for the 20th anniversary of MEFMI’s Combined Forum. The central theme that underpinned the forum was “stimulating opportunities for growth and development in Eastern and Southern Africa”. Discussions centred primarily on methods for prudent public financial management, exploring opportunities for cross border infrastructure development, attracting and managing foreign direct investment and an analysis of the growing local and international bond issuance by African countries.
Key subjects of discussion from the forum:
- Policies for attracting and managing foreign direct investment
- Re-orienting public expenditure priorities
- Addressing the infrastructure gap
- Sovereign debt issuance – foreign versus local currency bonds