These cycles are well documented in a number of countries. In South Africa, the SARB reportedly lowered interest rates in advance of the Primrose byelection in 1984, only to raise them again a few weeks after the election. The granting of operational independence to central banks has meant that monetary policy was in essence handed over to non-elected officials.
I am sure that the presentations during this first day of the conference, and even more so tomorrow, will shed light on crucial aspects of the path towards achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030 and beyond. I would like to congratulate the organisers for taking this initiative and wish them the best of success in this conference.