Chairperson of the conference and the President of the Center for Global Development; H.E Masood Ahmed;

HE Amira Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission

Members of the AU Special Envoy for Covid -19:

Dr Donald Kaberuka Chairperson of the Global Fund Board and Member of the AU Special Envoy,

Mr Trevor Manuel, Former Commissioner, Former Minister and Chairperson of the South African Planning Commission, Former Minister of Finance of the Republic of South Africa, 

Dr Lawrence H. Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus of Harvard University, Former Director of the National Economic Council, Former Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and Board Chair of the Center for Global Development;

Mr Tidjane Thiam, Former Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse, Former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Prudential, and Former Minister of Planning and Development of Côte d'Ivoire

Ms Nancy Birdsall, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development

Excellencies.

Ladies and gentlemen

I address you today on behalf of the government of South Africa.

I would like to take this opportunity and appreciate the efforts by the Center for Global Development for your contribution towards the reduction of poverty around the globe and improving the lives of our people through your innovative economic research, enabling good policies and evidence-based practices for the betterment of the world.