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Rising food and fuel prices
major discussion items
Contact:
Rose Marie Harris
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Commonwealth Finance Ministers will
discuss the implications of rising food and fuel prices on their economies at
their Annual Meeting, which this year will be held in Castries, Saint Lucia,
from October 6th 8th, 2008.
The Meeting will bring together Ministers, senior finance officials and
delegates from the 53 member countries.
It traditionally takes place just before Annual Meetings of the International
Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, allowing Commonwealth Ministers to
take joint concerns and positions into those meetings.
High food and energy prices present serious humanitarian, development and
macro-economic challenges to all members of the Commonwealth, and particularly
to Finance Ministers, said Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma.
Ministers will consider the implications of rising prices on economic and social
development before turning to the policy implications for their portfolios.
The discussions should enable Ministers to identify short and long term policy
responses to the fuel and energy crisis, not least by sharing their comparative
experience, the Secretary-General added.
Ministers will also discuss the ongoing Commonwealth call for the reform of
international institutions, following the mandate given by its Heads of
Government at their meetings in Kampala in 2007 and in June this year. The focus
of their discussions will be to continue Commonwealth efforts to promote deeper
reforms in the World Bank and IMF.
They will also follow up on their discussions of 2007 on the economic
implications of climate change, through assessing the impact of climate change
on the trading prospects of Small States.
Media Advisory &
Accreditation Form - Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting October 6 8, 2008
Saint Lucia
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