Governor Talks - Democratic Republic of the Congo: Energy Transition and the Role of the DRC as a Solution Country

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Location: Cedar Hall, HQ1-1-660

 

SPEAKER

 

   
Nicolas Kazadi
Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Monsieur Nicolas Kazadi est Ministre des Finances de la République Démocratique du Congo depuis le 12 avril 2021. Avant de rejoindre le Gouvernement, il était Ambassadeur itinérant du Président de la République pendant un peu plus de deux ans, soit de mars 2019 à avril 2021. Dans un contexte d’installation de nouvelles institutions de la république issues des élections, il a aidé au renforcement de la coopération multilatérale avec les institutions régionales et internationales.

Avant de regagner le pays en janvier 2019, Monsieur Nicolas KAZADI a travaillé, à partir de janvier 2002, pour la Banque Africaine de Développement comme Conseiller et Directeur exécutif par intérim, représentant cinq pays d'Afrique centrale, notamment la République Démocratique du Congo, le Cameroun, le Congo, le Burundi et la République centrafricaine et, après mi-2003, pendant 15 ans, pour le  Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement comme Conseiller économique et responsable des unités des stratégies et politiques pour la Guinée, la Côte d'Ivoire, le Madagascar et le Togo. Monsieur Nicolas KAZADI a commencé sa carrière à la Banque Centrale de la République Démocratique du Congo en 1991. Economiste de formation et banquier central de profession, il est diplômé des Universités de Brazzaville, de Reims (France) et de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Il est également ancien élève de l’Ecole Nationale d’Administration française (Promotion Averroès). Outre les langues nationales, il parle couramment le français et l’anglais.

 

MODERATOR

 

   
Abebe Aemro Selassie
Director of the African Department (IMF)

Abebe Aemro Selassie is the Director of the African Department, where he oversees the IMF’s operations and engagement with 45 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Under his leadership the IMF has disbursed some $51 billion to support the post pandemic recovery and foster greener more inclusive growth.  Working tirelessly alongside the region’s leaders Mr. Selassie strives to strengthen the region’s financial architecture and support Africa reaching its true potential.

Before taking up his current position in 2016, Mr. Selassie gained extensive experience in a wide-ranging career at the IMF. He held various senior positions, including Deputy Director in the African Department, Mission Chief for Portugal during the Euro Area Crisis and South Africa. He has served as the IMF’s Senior Resident Representative in Uganda and earlier in his career, he worked on the Fund’s lending programs with Turkey, Thailand, Romania and Estonia. While in the Strategy, Policy and Review Department he was deeply involved in low-income country and emerging-market programs and policy design issues. Before joining the IMF in 1994, he worked for the Government of Ethiopia as Principal Economist in the Office of the President and at the Economist Intelligence Unit in London.

 

SUMMARY

 

Key Points:

  • Climate change, financing, and forest preservation. Home to one of the largest forests of the world, DRC plays a pivotal role in carbon sequestration. Enhancing forest preservation management in addition to adopting policies to minimize carbon emissions, improving land use, and facilitating sustainable agriculture sector development are among the DRC's key measures to improve biodiversity and mitigate climate challenges. Nonetheless, striking the right balance between sustainable development and climate objectives while unlocking additional external financing remain key. Reaching climate objectives is a shared responsibility and it would be important to find new ways to deliver assistance and energy to people.
  • Green energy, the mining sector, and local transformation The DRC is rich in transition minerals required for the development of green energy technologies. Finding a way to tap into those resources while managing the challenges associated with a mining-intensive economy is key. Enhanced transparency in the mining sector has been important. Fostering local transformation could bring in needed structural changes to promote economic diversification, strengthen job creation, and achieve meaningful progress in poverty reduction.

Quote:

We want a sustainable development, and it is important for us to see that what we are bringing in the world in terms of climate challenges—the fight for climate preservation—should go along with the development of the countryNicolas Kazadi (7:35 – 7:52)

Contributor: Fares Rawah