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AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FUND ,ffi BOARDS OF GOVERNORS FIFTY.FOURTH ANNUAL FORTY.FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ADB MEETING OF THE ADF MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA 11 -14 JUNE 2019 11 - 14 JUNE 2019 OFFICIAL RECORD \Ñ FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ADB MEETING OF THE ADF MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA 11 - 14 JUNE 2019 11 - 14 JUNE 2019 OFFICIAL RECORD II INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Fifty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Forty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Fund (ADF) were held jointly from 11 to 14 June 2019 at the Sipopo Conference Centre, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. His Excellency, Mr. Gesar Augusto Mba ABOGO, Governor for Equatorial Guinea and Chairperson of the Boards of Governors presided over the deliberations in the presence of Dr. Akinwum¡ ADESINA, President of the African Development Bank Group. 1.2 Over two thousand (2000) participants attended the 2019 Annual Meetings, comprising Heads of State and their delegations, Governors, Alternate Governors, members of the Boards of Dírectors, delegates, business leaders, representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations, the media, observers as well as staff members of the Bank. 1.3 The Theme of the Meetings was: "Regional lntegration for Africa's Economic Prosperity". The plenary sessions were preceded by meetings of the subsidiary organs of the Boards of Governors. Various special events were held on the sidelines of the 2019 Annual Meetings. III SPEC¡AL EVENTS 2.1 The Special events held during the Annual Meetings included a high-level presidential dialogue on boosting Africa's economic integration, the launch of the Africa Digital Financial lnclusion Facility (ADFI) on accelerating Africa's integration and development through digital financial inclusion, a breakfast session on transformative partnerships - solving Africa's power deficit through regional initiatives, and a discussion on regional integration: harnessing the potential of Equatorial Guinea. Knowledge events were also held on the following themes: Driving economic prosperity through regional integration - lessons from experience and opportunities ahead; open borders through private sector development - how regional infrastructure can boost growth and job creation; and integrating African farmers into regional and global value chains. 2.2 ln attendance at the special events were Heads of State and Government, leaders of regional and international institutions, members of the Diplomatic Corps in Equatorial Guinea, representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations, delegates, business leaders, observers, and the African Development Bank's Governors, Alternate Governors, Board Members, as well as Management and Staff. III/ GOVERNORS' DIALOGUE WITH THE BANK GROUP PRESIDENT 3.1 Another important event that took place during the Annual Meetings was the Governors' dialogue with the Bank Group President. The dialogue offered the President an opportunity to discuss with Governors the Bank Group's role in accelerating regional integration. 3.2 Governors acknowledged the progress made towards the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area but emphasized the importance of regional integration as catalyst for Africa's economic prosperity, and underscored the need for the Bank Group to support Regional Member Countries (RMCs) that have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement in the areas of institutional and governance reforms, and the free movenlent of people, goods and services as key enablers of regional integration that will help stem irregular migration; 3.3 They expressed support for an adequately capitalized African Development Bank to help bridge the infrastructure finance gap in such areas as telecommunications, railroads, energy, digital economy, and areas where the Bank Group has a comparative advantage; 3.4 They urged the Bank Group to pursue its regional integration agenda in a sustainable and inclusive manner that ensures a win-win situation for every country on the African continent; and called for the strengthening of project preparation facilities particularly for low income countries to finance priority regional integration projects; 3.5 Governors pointed out the nexus between peace, security and stability and their impact on development and requested the Bank Group and other development partners to consider additional support to countries that are using a disproportionate portion of their resources to address threats to regional peace and security. They also encouraged the Bank to provide more resources under the ADF 15 replenishment to issues of fragility and regional integration, including support to the private sector in conflict and fragile countries; 3,6 They invited the Bank Group to step up efforts to improve public finance management and debt sustainability in RMCs as well as curb illicit financial flows from the continent, by strengthening dialogue in order to implement financial regulatory reforms that have the potential to attract investments; 3.7 Governors called for sustained focus on the climate agenda as well as a stronger commitment to gender equality and youth empowerment, support to the private sector, greater focus on public-private partnerships and human development. They also called for sustained lending and support for policy and regulatory reforms including the harmonization of trade related policies that foster a business-friendly environment and enhance regional integration; 3.8 Finally, they reiterated their support for the seventh General Capital lncrease (GCl-Vll) for the African Development Bank, which will contribute to strengthening regional integration. 2 tvl OPENING CEREMONY 4.1 The formal opening ceremony was held at the Gran Sala de Conferencias, Sipopo Conference Center, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on 12 June 2019 under the auspices of His Excellency, Mr. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, who was accompanied by the First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs Constancia Mangue de Obiang. Other Heads of State and Government who attended the event were His Majesty King Letsie lll, King of the Kingdom of Lesotho; His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and the Right Honorable Mr. Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini. 4.2 Also in attendance were Honorable Minister, Mr. Louis Paul Motaze, representing His Excellency Mr. Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroön; Hbnorable Minister, Ms. Claudine Uwera, representing His Excellency Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda; Honorable Minister, Mr. Felix Moloua, representing His Excellency Mr, Faustin Archange Touadera, President of Central African Republic; Honorable Minister, Mr. Adama Kone, representing His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d'lvoire; The Right Honorable Mr. Francisco Pascual Obama Asue, Prime Minister of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Ms. Teresa Efua Asangono, President of the Senate of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Mr. Guadensio Muaba Mesu, President of the Lower House of Parliament of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Mr. David Nguema Obiang, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; and Ms. Coloma Ejang Mbengono, Mayor of the City of Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea. 4.3 Members of Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Members of Parliament of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Secretary General of the Party of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Representatives of lnternational Organizations accredited to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea also attended the event. 4.4 The opening ceremony was marked by the speeches of Mr. Cesar Augusto Mba Abogo, Governor for Equatorial Guinea and Chairperson of the Boards of Governors; Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group; and His Excellency, Mr. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, who officially declared open the 54th Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank and 45th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund. 4.5 ln his opening statement, Mr. Cesar Augusto Mba Abogo, welcomed allthe delegates to his country and wished them a pleasant stay in Malabo. He then weaved his opening speech around the concepts of "Resilience" and "Utopia". 4.6 He stated that the concept of resilience has enabled his country to rise from one of the poorest countries in the 1980s to a peaceful country that has improved its infrastructure and the quality of life of its people through good leadership, careful planning and the prudent use of its natural resources. ln that regard, he invited the delegates to go beyond Malabo and visit other regions of the country to appreciate the achievement the country has recorded in the development of infrastructure. He also informed the gathering that the country recently unveiled a new national development plan to replace its 2007 plan, which had guided the development and transformation of the country during the last decade. 4.7 With regard to "Utopia", the Governor stated that the concept has enabled his country to control its destiny, address its numerous challenges, including that of growing y 'dü population and the need for job creation, and in the process achieve