Experts from Central Africa to address the Region's energy challenges

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Experts from Central Africa to address the Region’s energy challenges

ECA Press Release No. 13/2012

Yaoundé, 20 February 2012 (ECA) – At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Congo, the Sub Regional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA/SRO-CA) is organizing a meeting of experts to address the challenges being faced by Central African countries in satisfying their energy needs. The 28th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) of the sub region will be held from 29 February to 02 March in Brazzaville. The opening ceremony of the meeting will be co-chaired by Congo’s Minister of State, Coordinator of the Economic Pool and Minister of Economy, Planning, Regional Development and Integration – H.E. Mr. Pierre Moussa and United Nations Under- Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA, H.E. Mr Abdoulie Janneh .

As per the recommendation of the 27th session of the Committee held in Yaounde, Cameroon, in March 2011, this 28th ICE session will be held under the theme “Addressing Central Africa’s Energy Challenges”. The meeting will provide an opportunity for experts from the sub region’s member-states and institutions to deliberate on current and emerging development challenges of the sub region with a view to reinforcing the advisory roles they play in their respective organizations.

In relation with the theme of the meeting, participants will deliberate on the ways and means of tackling Central Africa’s energy challenges in the context of sub regional integration. They will also be informed on the status of current priority programs of the sub regional institutions as well as on recent initiatives of the ECA. In addition, the delegates will take part in an interactive discussion on the challenges and opportunities of China-Africa cooperation, which is an emerging topical issue in the sub region.

The 28th session of the ICE will be preceded by an Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM), which will be held from 27 to 28 February 2012. Participants of the AEGM will review a report prepared by ECA/SRO-CA on the theme: “Public service delivery, corruption and SME’s growth in Central Africa”. The experts’ comments and recommendations will be incorporated into the final report, which will be disseminated to policy makers and institutions concerned in the sub region with a view to promoting policies that would allow SMEs effectively play their role in the sub region’s development process.

It is to be recalled that the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) is the policy organ of each sub-regional office of ECA.

It was established by the UN General Assembly as a subsidiary body of the African Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, which deliberates on current and emerging development issues at sub regional level and recommends actions for socio-economic development policy coordination and harmonization among member states.

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Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251-11-551 03 65 E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org

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