President William Ruto on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, amused delegates attending the African Development Bank Group (AFDB) annual summit with his opening remarks.
Addressing the delegates, Ruto underscored the significance of holding the regional meeting in Nairobi, urging AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina to consider hosting a similar event in Kenya in the year 2054.
“It is a great honour for Kenya to host the 59th meeting of the African Development Bank Group especially as the group celebrates its 60th anniversary,” Ruto said.
“We also had the privilege to host the 30th anniversary of the African Development Bank Group in 1994, we are privileged to host the 60th and I have requested AfDB to offer Kenya the 90th anniversary in 2054 and I promise that even if I will be walking with a walking stick, I will attend,” Ruto added amidst a rousing applause.
Ruto’s state dinner
President Ruto was speaking during Wednesday’s forum which drew together senior government officials and presidents. The session also includes several major investors in Africa and around the world.
Ruto is expected to treat the visiting presidents and senior government officials to a state dinner at the State House later on Wednesday evening.
Already, the African Union Committee president Moussa Faki Mahamat is in the country together with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The other president in attendance is the Republic of Congo’s Dennis Sassou Nguesso.
The 2024 annual summit theme is Africa’s Transformation, the African Development Bank Group, and the Reform of the Global Financial Architecture.’
The forum will attract more than 3,000 participants by the time it ends on Friday, May 31, 2024. The meetings were officially opened by AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina on Monday, May 27, 2024, at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The summit includes statutory meetings of its governors who are finance ministers or central bank governors representing the 81 member countries, and knowledge events.
Other attendees will include representatives of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, leading academics and non-governmental organisations, civil society, and the private sector.
Likely to be high on the agenda is the lack of climate finance for African priorities and the high cost of capital to invest in sustainable infrastructure for green growth and a just energy transition.
The meetings will comprise member States’ invitation-only sessions, closed bilateral meetings, as well as events open to all attendees, including the press.
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