Statement at the Sixth Session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance

"The sound management of money and finance is key to the success of any economic endeavor. Unfortunately, for reasons both internal and external, most of our countries have not been able to ensure a sound management of this important sector. As we are engaged in reforming our economies to meet the challenges of globalization and competitiveness, it is imperative to reform our financial systems taking into account the new realities of international economic relations. We need to take courageous steps to introduce all the necessary reforms in the financial sector so that it can play its role as a solid foundation to sustain our development efforts." - Dr. Salim, March 31, 1997