Christine Lagarde visits Cameroon and Nigeria

The Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday began a six-day tour in Africa from January 4-9.

Christine Lagarde would meet Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya to engage with policy makers and other stakeholders in both countries and from the region and to underline the IMF’s strong relationship with its African member countries.

The IMF boss will first be in Abuja, Nigeria, to meet President Buhari, other senior leaders, as well as business partners in the country.

“I look forward to productive meetings with President Buhari and his colleagues as they address important economic challenges, most importantly the impact of low oil prices,” she said.

In Cameroon, Ms. Lagarde will meet President Paul Biya and his economic team, as well as private sector executives, women leaders, and other members of Cameroonian society.

She will also meet with Finance Ministers from the six member countries of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), delivering a speech to the group on January 8.

According to Christine Lagarde the meeting with CEMAC will help in "Reinforcing regional integration and implementing ambitious reform agendas in CEMAC countries will be key to secure macroeconomic stability and restore strong and inclusive growth in the region.”