MALI’S PRESIDENCY OF THE LEADING GROUP ON INNOVATIVE FINANCING

The Presidency of the Leading Group on Innovative Financing for Development will be held by Mali during the first half of 2011.

During its term of office and in accordance with its road map, Mali’s Presidency will resolutely seek to give greater visibility in Africa to the Leading Group’s initiatives to combat extreme poverty and pandemics, and to establish fruitful partnerships with international organizations and other development actors.

Mali believes in the relevance of the innovative financing mechanism and adhered very early on to the air-ticket levy initiative, revenues from which have in fact made it possible to vaccinate and provide care for millions of children throughout the world.

The convincing results achieved in the health sector are real grounds for encouragement and warrant extending our action to other basic social sectors such as education.

With a view to this, we should give further consideration to the issue of alternative sources of financing, including those for international financial transactions, migrants’ remittances and illicit financial flows.

Such is the ambition of Mali’s Presidency of the Leading Group on Innovative Financing for Development.

True to its commitment, Mali will remain at the forefront of the struggle to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, that is to say, the struggle for the well-being and the dignity of the poorest.

Moctar Ouane

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation