Montreal hosts African development conference

Montreal will host next May 4-5 a conference on African development, Canadian minister of international cooperation, Susan Whelan, announced Monday.

The conference, to be held under the theme "Canada and Africa: A New Partnership," will bring together Canadian and African partners of the Canadian Agency of International Development to discuss the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which is a merger of the Senegalese and south African presidents' development plans for Africa. It consists of bringing private funds to promoting projects of infrastructure, environment, the new information and communication technologies and energy in the continent.

The conference will examine key issues including Governance, health and education, gender equality, peace and security, as well as economic growth.

"NEPAD, which is African made, and enjoys the support of African leaders, has set up a long-term and global strategy which will deliver Africa of poverty and conflicts" the Canadian minister said.

The African initiative will also be reviewed by the G8 heads of state at Kananaskis Summit in Alberta next June.