[Protocols]

Permit me to begin by expressing how deeply honoured I am for the privilege of addressing this noble and august 100^th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers. I warmly welcome you all to ACP House, which is, indeed, your House!

Let me also extend a warm hand of welcome to our Special Guest, H. E. Mr. Li Yong, Director-General of UNIDO who has graciously agreed to address Council on the topic Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development.

Mr. Chairman; Distinguished Participants; Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a pleasure to have been invited to participate in this Conference on Ebola and Global Governance, particularly at this time as the international community battles the containment of the recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa.

Excellencies, Ambassadors and Representatives of ACP Embassies and Missions, Representatives from the European Commission, Representatives from International Organisations, Managers from the various Project Management Units, Distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Representative of DG DEVCO, Representative of DG MARE, Representative of European Commission, Director of CTA, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your Excellencies,

Honorable Members of Parliament and

Distinguished participants

1.                At the outset, let me thank our Chair for this session, Dr Howard Sigwele from Botswana. I have been asked to speak on the subject of the “The ACP Group and the Georgetown Agreement: Vision and Objectives, Growth and Evolution, Gains and Lessons Learned”

Mr. Martin Lidegaard, Honourable  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark,

Your Excellences; Distinguished Participants; Ladies and Gentlemen

Allow me first to thank the organisers, for inviting me in my capacity as the Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States, to participate in the WAITRO General Assembly and its 22nd Biennial Congress.