9th German World Bank Forum

VIDEOS of the 9th German World Bank Forum

Center-stage in G8 Process
“This is a critical time for Africa; There are wonderful new opportunities presented by the global economy, and difficult new challenges” World Bank Vice President for Africa Obiageli Ezekwesili said on the opening of the 9th German World Bank Forum. Under the theme “Africa is on the rise”, the Bank’s flagship event in Germany gathered around 400 guests in Berlin on May 21-22, 2007.  For the first time, the Forum was hosted by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, who is also the Representative of the Chancellor for Africa.

The German World Bank Forum draws every year high-level participation from Government, private sector, Parliament, academia, civil society and media, around a central theme – such as Middle East, Latin America or the knowledge economy in previous editions.  Guests this year included President Festus Mogae of Botswana, President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin, Grameen Bank founder and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammed Yunus of Bangladesh, Transparency International founder Peter Eigen and many other German and African representatives.

Forum Opening Conference (from left to right): Mohammed Ibrahim (founderand chairman of Celtel), Mandisi Mpahlwa (South African Minister of Trade and Tourism), Ms. Ezekwesili (WB AFR Vice President), F. Mogae (President of Botswana), Ms. Wieczorek-Zeul (German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development), Thomas Yayi Boni (President of Benin), Theo Sommer (editor-at-large, Die Zeit) and Mohammed Yunus (Nobel Peace Laureate).

Participants reviewed a wide range of development challenges for the continent. “ODA alone cannot ensure development financing.  We need improved access to financial services, especially for small and medium enterprises, women and farmers” noted Minister Wieczorek-Zeul.  The emerging role of India and especially China in Africa was a recurrent topic of discussion: “We are increasingly looking to the East but will keep asking the West for money” remarked with humor Ambassador Bethuel Kiplagat of Kenya.

Obiageli Ezekwesili, Theo Sommer, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul and Bamanga Tukur (Executive President of the African Business Roundtable) during the panel on Sustainable investment

To underpin the dynamism of the region, the second day of the Forum was fully dedicated to business in Africa.  Participants emphasized the need for practical measures to foster foreign and domestic investment and support a better business climate throughout Africa.  German G8-Sherpa Bernd Pfaffenbach gave a keynote on Africa’s role and opportunities for the continent to participate “in responsible growth”. “Countries can change” IFC VP Michael Klein reminded the audience, recalling that China “was suffering in the 1920s from the same problems that we associate today with Africa”.

The 9th German World Bank Forum focused this year on Africa

From Gleneagles to Heiligendamm
This 9th German Forum was part of the outreach efforts on Africa by the German government as part of its G8 and EU Presidencies.
 
Two years after Gleneagles, the German Presidency is bringing new life to the commitments made on Africa, which will be in the spotlight at the upcoming G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, as Mr. Pfaffenbach stressed.

“Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged a strong focus on Africa at next month's G8 Summit—showing that this is not a passing phenomenon, but something the African people can count on” said Obiageli Ezekwesili, “Germany can use this moment to lead the way for a New Deal not just for Africa, but for Africans” she continued.  Looking ahead, Minister Wieczorek-Zeul confirmed Germany’s commitment to fulfill the Gleneagles promises and beyond.

Peace Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus gave the keynote of the Africa Evening

African Partnership Forum
In parallel the German authorities hosted the 8th Africa Partnership Forum on May 22-23, 2007. Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the participants including high level guests such as Presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.  The World Bank delegation was led by AFR Vice President, Obiageli Ezekwesili, and Hartwig Schafer, Director of Operations.  The meeting focused on the African Peer Review Mechanism, Climate Change, Investment in Africa, Peace and Security, and Gender.  For the first time, a civil society representative, Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane, Archbishop of Cape Town, presented recommendations from civil society consultations on development priorities for Africa.

Nana Addo Akufo-Addo (Foreign Minister of Ghana), Festus Mogae (President of Botswana), heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Angela Merkel (German Chancellorl, Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Prime Minister of Denmark) and Obiageli Ezekwesili.