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CONAKRY, Guinea, September 17, 2012/ -- The President of the African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org), Donald Kaberuka, arrived in Conakry on Saturday, as part of his official tour of West Africa. The goal of the visit was to reinforce dialogue between the Bank and Guinea, and to evaluate the country’s economic progress as well as its needs and priorities in terms of economic and social development.

President Kaberuka and his delegation were met at the airport by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Kerfalla Yansane. In the afternoon the AfDB President participated in Guinea’s Economic Forum, which focused on “Diversification of the Economy and Good Governance for an Emerging Guinea.”

Mr. Kaberuka praised the forum, which was co-sponsored by the Bank and which provided a venue for reflection on the central themes of Guinea’s future at a historic point in its development. He also pointed out that the forum was being held right before the end of the initiative for Highly Indebted Countries (HIPC) and the considerable debt reductions associated with it.

The President emphasized that the AfDB would work with Guinea to develop its potential in the areas of infrastructure and energy. He called for Guineans to work together in effectively managing both the country’s economy and governance. Kaberuka also emphasized the need for investment in human resources.

For his part, Prime Minister Said Fofana described the AfDB President as “a highly competent African who is ready to help Guinea in its economic development.”

The Prime Minister promised that his government would work towards implementing the recommendations that came out of the forum. He thanked forum participants on behalf of President Alpha Condé, who he said was committed to bring about change in Guinea.

On Sunday, the second day of the AfDB President’s official visit to Guinea, Kaberuka was given a tour of projects financed by the Bank. Along with several members of the Guinean Government, Kaberuka visited a road project in downtown Conraky, as well as a project to rehabilitate and extend the electricity network in the capital. President Kaberuka was impressed by the quality of the work as well as the progress achieved by the projects.