However, I am convinced that it is in the best interest of your deliberations that I express my perspective on the issues as candidly as possible. Global economic trends I consider the hallmark of my remarks to be opportune for several reasons. This is a time of almost unprecedented increase in global prosperity.
World economic growth is not only rapid (estimated at 5.4 percent in 2006); it is also broad-based. In Sub-Saharan Africa, economic growth in 2006 was 5.5 percent, a trend which is forecast to continue through 2007 and 2008, and has, accordingly, given rise to optimism which borders on euphoria.