The IMF's Africa Training Institute started operations today, welcoming 28 participants from sub-Saharan Africa to its first training course in Pointe aux Piments, Mauritius. The two-week course is focused on Economic Issues in Regional Integration. The Africa Training Institute plans to train over 200 officials per year through eight two-week courses.
"Today, we are opening a new chapter in capacity-building in sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to the generous financial contribution and logistical support of the Mauritius government-the host country--as well as financial support pledges from the Australian Agency for International Development and the Chinese authorities," IMF representative Vitaliy Kramarenko said at the opening session. The Africa Training Institute's key objective is to contribute to improved macroeconomic and financial policies through high-quality training, which would ultimately support sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa.
"We hope that in the period ahead, the Africa Training Institute will become a leading regional institution in training on macro-economic policymaking, public finance, exchange rate and monetary policies, economic integration, and financial sector issues. We will also work to ensure that our training is closely integrated with the activities of the IMF's Regional Technical Assistance Centers in Africa," Mr. Kramarenko said.
The IMF offers technical assistance and training to member countries in addition to economic and financial surveillance, and lending operations. The IMF's technical assistance helps member countries develop more effective institutions, legal frameworks and policies to promote economic stability and growth, while training strengthens the capacity of member countries' officials to analyze economic developments and formulate and implement effective policies. In the year ending April 30, 2012, some 7,800 officials from member countries attended IMF training courses at headquarters in Washington, D.C., and at various locations around the world, including donor-supported regional training centers in Austria, Kuwait, and Singapore.
