Accra, May 6, GNA - The next annual meetings of the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund would be held from May 18 to May 19, 2005, in Abuja, Nigeria.

Each year, the meeting brings together about 1,500 private and public sector managers and economic experts including Finance Ministers of the Bank Group's 77 member countries.

A statement issued by Mr D.A. Kwapong, Acting Director of the Information Services Department, said the meeting would be preceded by the annual symposium on May 17, which would focus on: "Capacity Development for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa."

It said the major agenda would be the election of the eighth President of the Bank Group for a five-year mandate to replace Mr Omar Kabbaj, who led the institution for 10 years.

The statement asked media representatives, who wished to cover the 2005 Annual Meetings, to fill and return accreditation forms to the Division Manager, Mr Eric Chinje, Internal and External Communications Division.

The form could be accessed online at the Bank's Website - www.afdb.org