On July 21, 2007, World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region, Ms Obiageli Ezekwesili and Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno took advantage of respective trips to Paris, France to discuss the recommendations that came out of a recent multi-donor mission to Chad. The mission, whose recommendations President Déby endorsed fully, followed up on commitments made in a July 2006 memorandum of understandingbetween the World Bank and the Chadian Government.
During the meeting in Paris, Ms. Ezekwesili and President Deby talked about the need for a revised 2007 budget law, especially in view of bringing the spending of oil revenues closer in line with the country’s commitment to spend 70% in priority sectors. This revision and other budgetary disciplinary measures would also contribute to keeping the country on course to becoming eligible for debt cancellation under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.
Both also: voiced concerns over weak public finance procedures such as procurement, discussed the possibility of donor partner support for the country’s energy strategy, talked about the progress in revising the country’s poverty reduction strategy, and how to jointly improve the impact World Bank projects are having in Chad.
The meeting, considered frank, cordial and productive, also raised the possibility of a visit to Chad by Ms. Ezekwesili sometime in the Fall to follow through on some of the topics raised during their discussion.
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