African Economists Meet At UN Conference In Tunis

African Economists Meet At UN-Backed Conference In Tunis

New York, Nov 12 2008 11:10AM

Economists and policymakers from across Africa have gathered today in the Tunisian capital for the start of a three-day United Nations-backed conference designed to boost the continent’s economic performance.

The Third African Economic Conference, jointly organized by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank, will focus on the theme of “Globalization, Institutions and Economic Development of Africa.”

The Tunis conference’s aim is to allow participants to exchange ideas about the latest research and information on economic issues, particularly the impact of the current global financial crisis on Africa, according to a press release issued by ECA this week.

The commission’s Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh is among the high-level figures scheduled to address the joint opening session of the conference and the ministerial forum.

Africa has enjoyed higher economic growth this decade than it did in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks in part to high commodity prices, especially oil, better economic policies implemented by national governments across the continent and the end of hostilities in several countries.

But the global financial crisis, particularly its impact on international credit markets, means the economic outlook for Africa remains uncertain, ECA stressed.

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