India to host annual meeting of African Development Bank in May 2017

India will be hosting the next annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group at Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre, Ahmedabad from 22 to 26 May 2017.

This will be a mega international event to be attended by over 5,000 delegates from 80 member countries of the African Development Bank, including the governors, alternate governors, executive directors, policy makers and businesses.

A high level preparatory mission of AfDB, led by Ms Nnenna Nwabufo, chairperson of the Permanent Committee for Annual Meetings, arrived in India on 6 September to assess infrastructure and other facilities available at Ahmedabad and New Delhi.

The secretary general of AfDB, Vincent O Nmehielle, along with the delegation met senior officers at Ahmedabad and at the Department of Economic Affairs of the union finance ministry to sign a memorandum of understanding on the holding of the annual meetings.

The MoU signed by Bandana Preyashi, deputy secretary (ADB-II/AfDB) of the Department of Economic Affairs and Vincent O Nmehielle, secretary general of AfDB, outlines the roles of Government of India and AfDB.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) was established in 1963 with a view to promote the economic development and social progress of its regional members. India became member of the African Development Bank in 1983.  The union finance minister and secretary, department of economic affairs, hold the posts of governor and alternate governor, respectively, of the bank.