18th International Economic Forum on Africa and Launch of Revenue Statistics in Africa

MEDIA ADVISORY
18th International Economic Forum on Africa and Launch of
Revenue Statistics in Africa

INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

WHEN: 31st October 2018
WHERE: Paris, France
WHO: The African Union Commission, OECD and AFD (French Development Agency)
Background:

Since last March, 49 African countries signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Once ratified, AfCFTA, which is a flagship project of the African Union Agenda, will create a single market encompassing 1.2 billion people and more than USD 2 trillion in combined GDP. Simultaneously, a protocol on the free movement of people was adopted by 30 African countries. The 18th International Economic Forum on Africa will discuss the key topics of growth, employment, migration and development in the wake of Africa’s historical decision for closer integration.

The Forum will take place on 31 October 2018 in Paris, France and is a joint effort between the African Union Commission (AUC), the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and in partnership with the French Development Agency.

Speakers include:

• Victor Harison, Commissioner for Economic Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC)
• Angel Gurría, Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
• Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Home Affairs, Republic of South Africa
• François Héran, Collège de France Professor and Institut National d’Études Démographiques Research Associate
• Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• Stefano Manservisi, Director General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission
• Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
• Achille Mbembe, Professor of History and Politics, Witwatersrand University (South Africa)
• Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Patron of the AfroChampions Initiative
• Mario Pezzini, OECD Development Centre Director and Special Advisor to the OECD Secretary General on Development
• Rene N’Guettia Kouassi, Director for Economic Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC)
• Felwine Sarr, Professor of Economics, Gaston Berger University (Senegal)
• Ammin Youssouf, Co-Founder, AfroBytes

Further information, including a full agenda, is available on the AU website. (www.au.int)

Further reflecting the commitment to supporting better policies for better lives in Africa, the OECD Emerging Markets Network (EMnet) will hold a business meeting on “Infrastructure and Regional Connectivity” on Tuesday 30 October.

Following the recent release of the first ever Africa’s Development Dynamics report, the third edition of Revenue Statistics in Africa will be launched during the Africa Forum at 10:00 a.m. on 31 October. The report provides comparable information on tax and non-tax revenue for 21 participating countries: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda. It examines changes in both the level and the composition of tax and non-tax revenue between 1990 and 2016. The report also includes a special feature on the African Union’ Strategy for the Harmonisation of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA). Revenue Statistics in Africa is a joint production by the African Tax Administration Forum, the African Union Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with the support of the European Union.

Follow the event on social media: @AU_Economy; #AfricaForum

Journalists are invited to cover the Event.

To register attendance, submit interview requests or receive an embargoed copy of Revenue Statistics in Africa journalists should contact the listed Press Contacts.
________________________________________
Press contacts:

African Union Commission: Djeinaba Kane (KaneD@africa-union.org; Tel: +251 11 551 2663)
French Development Agency: Lou Bachelier-Degras (bachelierdegrasl@afd.fr; Tel: +33 1 53 44 34 24)
OECD Development Centre: Bochra Kriout (bochra.kriout@oecd.org; Tel: +33 145 24 82 96)
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
For further information: Department of Economic Affairs | African Union Commission I E-mail: EconomicAffairs@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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