India will be hosting the next annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in Ahmedabad, the capital of the state of Gujarat, from May 22 to 26, 2017.

The commitment followed a Memorandum of Understanding endorsed by both parties at the end of the Bank’s first Annual Meetings Preparatory mission to assess facilities and logistics for the event in Ahmedabad, according to AfDB press release.

This will be a mega international event to be attended by more than 5000 delegates from 80 member countries of the African Development Bank, including the governors, alternate governors, executive directors, policy makers and businesses.

The Meetings, taking place on the heels of the India-Africa Summit held in New Delhi last year, would further boost the long-standing economic cooperation between the two sides and open up new avenues for fruitful business engagements between them, AfDB Secretary-General, Vincent Nmehielle, said after he signed the MOU on behalf of President Akinwumi Adesina.

India, with a population of 1.3 billion, covers the South Asian sub-continental landmass. Delhi joined the African Development Bank in 1982. The country is a key member of the institution’s 24 Non-Regional Member Countries, which support the African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional resource window of the Bank Group.

The next Annual Meetings preparatory mission is scheduled to take place in January 2017. 

Source : QNA