/ 7 February 2007

Manuel to attend G7 finance forum

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will attend a meeting of the group of seven (G7) ministers of finance and central bank governors, in Essen, Germany, the National Treasury said on Wednesday.

Manuel was invited by the G7, together with finance ministers from Brazil, India, Russia, China and Mexico, to attend the meeting to be held on Friday.

The G7 finance ministers and central bank governors comprise Germany (the current chair), Italy, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Japan. They meet regularly to discuss global financial and economic markets.

Items on the agenda include bond markets in emerging economies, trade, improving the stability of global financial markets, fiscal policy to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, good governance with respect to fiscal policy in Africa and International Monetary Fund reform.

The finance ministers of India, Brazil, South Africa and China (IBSA-China) will convene a working session ahead of the G7 forum to discuss and consolidate a common approach on a range of economic and financial matters. — Sapa