Welcome to the 2018 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group! I am delighted to be in Korea – in the Smart City of Busan! So smart, that part of Black Panther, the new blockbuster movie rocking the world, was shot right here!
First of all, on behalf of the Korean Government and the Korean people,
I would like to welcome all of you to the 2018 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group.
It’s been a great day together. I’d like to congratulate the Government of Korea on it very successful and meticulous planning of the KOAFEC Conference, which has once again been both a genuine pleasure and an occasion for huge learning for us at the African Development Bank as we seek to accelerate the economic development of Africa.
I am very pleased to be here in Korea once again with a large group of my colleagues to attend this KOAFEC Ministerial Meeting.
I wish to thank the Government of Korea for hosting us and for choosing a very timely and important theme, “Africa and the 4th industrial revolution: Opportunities for leapfrogging?” This year’s theme cuts neatly across all the African Development Bank’s High 5s: Light up and power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.