President Jakaya Kikwete

President Jakaya Kikwete is today set to officially open a five-day historic annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meeting here, which will be attended by ten Heads of State from African and European countries.

Ngosha Magonya who is the Commissioner of External Finance in the Treasury said the meeting will also bring on board 80 bank’s governors, more than 3,000 bankers and financial experts from across the world.

“This will be an important meeting to our nation and Arusha in particular, as it will explore a number of business opportunities for Tanzania’s small and medium enterprises,” he said.

Magonya said that some entrepreneurs will also benefit from the large number of people who will gather in Arusha as they will get time to go for shopping.

The official said the AfDB annual meetings will be held under theme: "Africa and the Emerging Global Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities".

He stated that the forum will also involve bankers and financial experts, who would be debating a number of issues including Africa's economy and its place in a changing world, including Africa's response to the continuing global economic crisis and a stronger commitment to the green economy.

Magonya noted that the AfDB will address these issues and more in four seminars: "Opportunities and Threats of the Global Economic Crisis", "Emerging Issues in African Economics", "Greening the Economy" and "Voice and Accountability".

According to him, there will also be a high-level debate titled: "Innovative Financing of Infrastructure and Regional Integration post the Economic Crisis".

The AfDB’s mission is to help reduce poverty, improve living conditions for Africans and mobilise resources for Africa’s economic and social development.

He noted that the meeting will go hand-in-hand with a number of sub-meetings and workshops.