AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia P. O. Box 3243 Telephone: +251 11 551 7700 / +251 11 518 25 58/ Ext 2558 Website: www.au.int DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION PRESS RELEASE Nº078/2015 Commissioner Maruping invites all Africans to joint efforts in the implementation of AU Agenda 2063 at closing of the AUC/ECA COM15 Committee of Experts Addis Ababa, 28th March 2015 –The Committee of Experts ahead of the eight joint annual meeting of the African Union (AU) Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development closed on 28th March 2015 at the ECA Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Addressing the closing session, the Commissioner of Economic Affairs of the AUC H.E. Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping thanked the delegates for the rich and insightful discussions held over the past four days. Underlining that the discussions were both informative and constructive leading to profound engagements in various agenda items throughout the meeting. “The highly relevant discussions, which you have had, will help both the AUC and ECA to advance their work in line with the Agenda 2063, which is the strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years” Commissioner Maruping noted with satisfaction. In addition, Dr. Maruping reiterated that Agenda 2063 is here to stay and it is a reality that needs to recognize even though he acknowledged that its implementation framework will be challenging. “ But with commitment of all the Member States and all stakeholders it is doable”. He underlined. “We encourage member states and regional economic communities to integrate Agenda 2063 into their national and regional development plans and to emphasize accountability through quality budgetary standards and government procurement practices”. The Commissioner added. He called on the need for clear defined monitoring and evaluation frameworks through periodic assessment of national and regional development strategies in line with the AU Agenda 2063 underlining the need for joined effort to achieve a common African Position. Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), on his part, highlighted the overarching need for ECA to support efforts to align national development to African Union’s Agenda 2063 and ensure its domestication. The Expert meeting ended with the adoption of the report to be submitted to the Ministerial meeting for consideration. BM/SHB/EAT For further information contact Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africanunion.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia Follow us Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommission Learn more at: http://www.au.int