NEWS RELEASES
CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION TO A PROGRAM TO MANAGE DEBT IN THE FRANCOPHONE COUNTRIES OF THE SOUTH
December 19, 1997 No. 216
CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION TO A PROGRAM TO MANAGE DEBT IN
THE FRANCOPHONE COUNTRIES OF THE SOUTH
Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la
Francophonie Diane Marleau today announced the signature of a memorandum of
understanding authorizing the transfer of a debt management software program from
the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to the Agency of
la Francophonie.
This memorandum was signed, in the presence of the Minister, by IDRC President
Maureen O'Neil and Jean-Louis Roy, Secretary General, Agency of la Francophonie.
"Using this software, financial management officials in the countries of the South
will be able to reduce from a number of weeks to just a few minutes the time
required for various calculations," said Mrs. Marleau. "While the software will
not solve the debt problems facing many countries, it will enable them to
streamline the management of their public finances, which is an essential step in
correcting situations and a prerequisite for making enlightened economic
decisions."
This transfer of the French version of the debt management program should enable
the Agency of la Francophonie to help the Francophone countries of the South, most
of which face problems of indebtedness, which in turn is stifling their
development efforts.
To achieve this, a Canadian contribution of $300 000 was proposed as part of the
Canadian program at last November's Summit in Hanoi. This sum will make it
possible to complete three projects under way in Benin, Cameroon and Mali, the
first countries of la Francophonie in which the IDRC installed its French
software.
The theme of the Hanoi Francophonie Summit proposed by the Vietnamese authorities,
oriented to economic and social development, reflected the preoccupations of
member countries and the major objectives of their co-operation. The debt
management project is the first in a series of 10 or so that Canada is planning to
launch. The rapid implementation of Canada's commitments, just three weeks after
the closing of the Summit, demonstrates the country's leadership, dynamism and
efficiency.
At a luncheon that followed the signing ceremony, Mrs. Marleau paid special
tribute to outgoing Secretary General of la Francophonie Jean-Louis Roy, who will
officially step down at month's end. The Minister thanked him especially for his
contribution toward the modernization of la Francophonie, "which has now taken a
new turn toward the information highway and the Francophone economic space."
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
André Doren
Office of the Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for
la Francophonie
(819) 997-6919
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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