WASHINGTON, September 7, 2012 – The World Bank’s Vice President for the Africa Region, Makhtar Diop, will embark on a visit to Guinea on Monday September 10th to consult with President Alpha Condé, Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana, as well as government Ministers and other key country partners on how best the World Bank Group can assist them in achieving their development priorities.
Diop’s visit to Guinea comes as he concludes a week-long trip to Africa with World Bank Group President Jim Kim, during which they visited the countries of Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa and held high-level talks with President Alassane Ouattara and President Jacob Zuma, and also met with women and business leaders and young job seekers.
Vice President Diop’s discussions in Guinea will focus on key development issues such as the upcoming Heavily-Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) debt forgiveness completion point for Guinea, the development of the country’s mining sector, which is a key priority of the Government, and the diversification of the Guinean economy.
Mr. Diop is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the private sector.
The Vice President will hold a press conference on Monday, September 10, 2012 at the end of the visit.
Guinea, with a population of 11 million people, has enormous deposits of untapped natural resources. Guinea joined the World Bank Group in 1963. The World Bank currently finances 14 development programs in Guinea with a portfolio value of approximately US$291 million.
