Christine Lagarde to Make First Trip to Africa as IMF Boss

By Staff Writer 

WASHINGTON— International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde will visit Nigeria and Niger from December 18–22, 2011, on her first trip to Africa since her appointment earlier this year. Ms. Lagarde will hear from policymakers, the African private sector, and civil society about the challenges facing African countries and underline the IMF’s commitment to further reinforce the IMF’s partnership with Sub-Saharan Africa.

 “I am very much looking forward to my first visit to Africa as Managing Director of the IMF. Africa is a vital part of the IMF’s membership, and listening to the voices of the region, and strengthening our partnership, is one of my key objectives,” Ms. Lagarde said ahead of her trip. “African economies have made significant progress over the last few years. However, the world economy is in a critical phase, and in these difficult times, we have to make sure we all work together to tackle the challenges facing all IMF member countries, in Africa and around the globe.”

In Abuja, Ms. Lagarde will hold a series of meetings with the leadership of Nigeria, including President Goodluck Jonathan and Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. In Lagos, she will take part in a round-table discussion on “Africa’s Future: Responding to Today’s Global Economic Challenges”, alongside the private sector, academia, civil society organizations and research institutes.

In Niger, Ms. Lagarde will meet with President Mahamadou Issoufou and take part in a cabinet meeting focused on “The Challenges of Economic Development in Niger”. She will also address the National Assembly, and meet with representatives of the financial institutions and the private sector.