9th training session for young volunteers

One hundred young African Union volunteers in pre-deployment training in Brazzaville

On November 19, 2018, on behalf of the Prime Minister, Minister of State Gilbert Ondongo, opened the 9th Pre-deployment Training Session of the African Union Youth Corps. A hundred young people from several countries in different parts of Africa will receive various lessons during this session, which will end on November 30th. In his opening speech, Minister of State Gilbert Ondongo first noted the place occupied by youth in the vast development of Africa: "Africa loves his youth. Africa celebrates its youth. Africa relies on its youth. Youth is the future of Africa ... ".

But, he also and above all committed the responsibility of young people within the African space. In particular, he emphasized the commitment of the African Union, which is constantly working to foster the emergence of a new generation of African leaders who are in love with peace and love for the continent, seeking the integral development of Africa. , breaking down geographical barriers and all tendencies to introversions.

In his questioning to young African volunteers, the Minister of State Gilbert Ondongo said that "The Africa of tomorrow is the one you want it to be. For us adults, we want it prosperous, emancipated, emerging and occupying a place of choice in the concert of nations. This ambition seems to be within our reach and even more so, your responsibility. You will continue brilliantly, the work of the development of Africa that our elders and ourselves have started.

Before the Minister of State Gilbert Ondongo, the word was taken by the Minister in charge of youth and civic education. In her words of circumstance, Ms. Destinée Ermela Doukaga drew the attention of young volunteers to "the emergence of multifaceted crises that generate new needs in Africa, forcing states and regional and subregional organizations to devise strategies that could to provide solutions capable of relieving the sufferings of the populations ".

Working session between the IMF mission and the Minister of State, Gilbert Ondongo

On November 8, 2018, the mission of the International Monetary Fund in working stay in Brazzaville from November 5 to 15, was received by the Minister of State, Minister in charge of the economy, Gilbert Ondongo. Under the leadership of Mr. Alex Segura Ubiergo, this mission is in consultation with the Congolese authorities, to boost the Congo file, with a view to its completion, that is to say the signing of a program.

It emerges from this interview that, in a difficult environment characterized by a drastic drop in government revenue and unsustainable debt, the country has managed to meet the three main conditions that also constitute the IMF's major requirements; It is :

•     The adoption by the government of a budget (2018) in line with the parameters of the program;
•     The publication of a government diagnostic study on governance and corruption issues, with the assistance of the IMF;
•     The presentation to Parliament of an amendment to the law establishing the SNPC, to make mandatory each year, the publication of audits of its accounts, as well as those of its subsidiaries.

For the head of mission, Alex Segura Ubiergo, to date, only a technical condition remains to be fulfilled, especially that related to the financing assurances that the member states of the IMF's board of directors expect from China, in its double quality of principal creditor and strategic partner of the Congo. The International Monetary Fund conditions its aid to the Congo, to the restructuring of the country's external debt estimated at 5,784 billion CFA francs; more than 120% of GDP. The portion of the debt vis-à-vis China rises to 1,776 billion CFA francs.

Tokyo International Conference on African Development

From 04 to 07 October 2018, Mr. Gilbert ONDONGO, Minister of State, Minister of Economy, Industry and Public Portfolio, led, in Tokyo (Japan), the Congolese delegation to the ministerial meeting of the conference Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

The purpose of the meeting was to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of TICAD 5 and 6 and to prepare for TICAD 7, which will be held in late August 2019 in Yokohama, Japan. The plenary session of the ministerial meeting, jointly chaired by the ministers of foreign affairs of Japan and Rwanda country assuming the presidency of the African Union, was organized around the following four themes:

•     Trends and challenges since TICAD 6;
•     Economic transformation for growth inclusive;
•     A healthy, sustainable and stable society for human security;
•     Consolidate connectivity in Africa and beyond.

During the first plenary session, ministers discussed positive macroeconomic trends and welcomed, among other recent achievements, the signing of the agreement to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area. Similarly, they noted national and regional efforts to strengthen societal resilience in the areas of health, education and disaster risk reduction.

Ministers also acknowledged that efforts will need to be redoubled in a number of areas, including debt sustainability. Finally, Ministers reaffirmed Africa's expectations for increasing Japanese private investment on the continent. The Japanese side is committed to strengthening private public partnerships with Africa.

At the second plenary session, ministers reaffirmed that economic diversification should enable Africa to embark on the path of sustainable development. Ministers considered that economic and social transformation should be based on areas such as:

•     Modernization of the agricultural sector;
•     The promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises;
•     Promotion of science, technology and innovation.

Ministers also affirmed the need to find urgent solutions to the problems that hinder the promotion of public and private investment in Africa, including the inadequacy of commercial environments.

In the third plenary session, the ministers noted the progress made in the area of ​​human security, through the implementation of TICAD policies and the engagement of all stakeholders. It has been confirmed that the promotion of universal health coverage remains a key factor in enhancing the resilience and productivity of societies.

Ministers also stressed the importance of disaster risk reduction, given that African countries could be the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In addition, ministers discussed the consequences of rapid and unplanned urbanization.

The final plenary session of ministers focused on the issue of "connectivity". Ministers emphasized the need to improve physical connectivity through quality infrastructure and equipment. They also called for the harmonization of connectivity practices through exchanges, especially in the areas of tourism, culture, sports and academia.

At the conclusion of their work, the ministers resolved to work for the success of TICAD 7 to be held in Yokohama at the end of August 2019.

On the sidelines of the ministerial plenary meetings, Minister of State Gilbert Ondongo held talks with Taro Kono, Japan's foreign minister, during an official audience. The two ministers acknowledged the need to strengthen cooperation relations in the economic field, notably through an economic cooperation agreement and the forthcoming organization in Brazzaville of an economic forum. The Minister of State also wished to see partnership relations between Japan and Congo strengthen in the areas of education and health.

In this regard, the Japanese Foreign Minister said he would be willing to work on the files that the Minister of State would like to send him. He also expressed the wish to welcome to Japan the President of the Republic of Congo in favor of TICAD 7 in Yokohama.

In response to this invitation, the Minister of State urged that the participation of the President of the Republic of Congo in TICAD 7 be preceded by a state visit to consolidate the good relations maintained by the Congo and Japan.