TWENTY-FOURTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA. Bamako, Mali, 30 January-3 February 2006 INFORMATION NOTE

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1 E TWENTY-FOURTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA Bamako, Mali, 30 January-3 February 2006 INFORMATION NOTE Conference arrangements 1. The 24th FAO Regional Conference for Africa will be held at the Bamako International Conference Centre from 30 th January to 3 rd February The inaugural ceremony of the plenary session will take place at the Bamako International Conference Centre at hours on 02 February The normal working hours of the Conference will be 9.00 hours to hours and hours to hours, unless otherwise decided by the Conference. 3. An "Order of the Day" will be issued daily, giving detailed information of Conference business, the timetable of agenda items to be discussed and other information of general interest. 4. The Provisional Agenda ARC/06/1 has been circulated with the invitation letter. 5. FAO will provide the Conference Secretary who will be assisted by FAO staff. A list of their names and functions will be issued on the first day of the conference. Working languages 6. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. The documentation will be in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Press liaison and information 7. For the duration of the Conference, an FAO Information Officer, assisted by a Press Officer of the Government of the Republic of Mali, will provide contacts with the press and be responsible for matters concerning information to the public. 8. Journalists will be provided with accreditation by the National Organising Committee of the 24 th FAO Regional Conference for Africa. There will be an accreditation desk at the Conference venue and journalists are requested to bring two passport photographs and a letter of assignment from their editor or employer. Documentation 9. The working documents will be sent before the Conference to all governments and organisations invited. Documents drafted during the Conference will be available at the documents distribution desk, outside the Conference hall. The desk will also deliver mail and messages and deal with general inquiries. Draft recommendations and amendments 10. Delegates who wish to submit draft recommendations or other documents requiring a decision by the Conference are requested to hand their texts in French or English to the

2 2 Conference Secretary, if possible in three typewritten copies. Delegates wishing to circulate other written material related to the agenda of the Conference are requested to deliver 15 copies in Arabic, 30 copies in English and French, and 5 copies in Portuguese and Spanish to the Secretariat for distribution. Advance communication of text of speeches and statements 11. When prepared speeches or statements are to be made, it would help the Secretariat and ensure accuracy of interpretation if typed copies of the text could be handed to the Secretariat of the Conference beforehand. 12. All correspondence concerning the Regional Conference should be addressed to: Mr Madhy Bamba and Conference Secretary FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) Gamel Abdul Nasser Road PO Box GP 1628 Accra, Ghana Tel: (233) Or (233) Fax: (233) Madhy.Bamba@fao.org Mr Souleymane SIDIBE Chairman of the National Organising Committee of 24th FAO Regional Conference for Africa (CNO-FAO) 03 BP 201 Bamako Republic of Mali Tel. (223) (223) (223) Fax: (223) cnofao@datatech.net.ml The address during the Conference will be: Mr Madhy Bamba or Conference Secretary 24 th FAO Regional Conference for Africa c/o Bamako International Conference Centre Tel: (223) Fax: (223) Mrs Mariam Mahamat Nour FAO Representative in Mali FAO Representation in Mali Avenue de la Liberté-Dar Salam, (Route de Koulouba) Commune 3 Bamako P.O. Box 1820 Bamako Tel: (223) (223) (223) (223) Fax: (223) FAO-ML@fao.org Conference venue 13. The Bamako International Conference Centre is located in the Fleuve area of Bamako. It is within convenient driving distance of Sénou International Airport and is easily accessible from the area s main roads and highways. There are signs at regular intervals to guide motorists. Formalities for entry into the Republic of Mali 14. All visitors to Mali must hold valid passports. Citizens of countries that require visas for Mali should obtain these beforehand at the appropriate Malian diplomatic or consular offices abroad. UN Laissez-Passer holders and passport holders from ECOWAS countries, South Africa and Mauritania are exempt from visa requirements. 15. Yellow Fever vaccination is a mandatory requirement for travel to Mali from infected areas. The validity of international certificates of vaccination against yellow fever will

3 3 be checked upon arrival at Sénou International Airport. Travellers not in order will be given a vaccination for a fee before being allowed into the country. Registration and accreditation 16. Delegates and observers are requested to register soon after arrival at the Bamako International Conference Centre. All delegates, observers, guests, support staff and protection officers will receive security badges giving them access to designated areas of the Bamako International Conference Centre. The registration desk will be open from Thursday 26 January 2006 from hours to hours and then every day from hours to hours. The Conference Secretariat and the National Organising Committee will issue a provisional list of participants on the first day of the Conference. The Secretariat should be notified of any corrections or additions to be made to the list. 17. Agriculture Ministers/Heads of Delegation will also be issued with security badges and special pins giving them access to Conference venues and events. Communication services 18. There will be postal, telephone, telex and fax services on Conference premises as well as a travel and tourist information desk. Mali has two companies providing mobile telephone services. Both use the GSM standard and also offer fax, data transmission and voice mail facilities. Mobile phones can be rented from service providers. Medical and health services 19. There will be first aid medical services at the Bamako International Conference Centre and access to Bamako s hospitals, which are recognized as being of a good standard, for admission or special medical requirements. Ambulances and emergency medical vehicles will be assigned to the Conference and operate on a 24-hour basis. Delegates are encouraged to take out medical travel insurance from a reputable company. Arrangements at the airport 20. The Mali authorities will make special arrangements for participants on their arrival, assisting them with immigration, customs and baggage retrieval. Transport to the hotels will be also provided for participants who will have communicated timely their flight details. Similar arrangements will be made at the end of the Conference. Participants are advised to inform the Chairman of Mali s National Organising Committee, at least 3 weeks prior to arrival, of the name of their carrier, the flight number, the time of arrival and other relevant information to ensure their reception at Sénou International Airport. Participants are advised to mark their luggage clearly to facilitate identification. 21. Delegates who fail to inform the Conference Secretariat of their flight details will have to pay their own transfer from the airport, for which there will be no reimbursement. Additional transport may be hired by delegations at their own expense. Rental vehicles are Bamako from well-known companies. Drivers must have a valid driving licence that bears a photograph of the holder and is either printed or authenticated in French. Mali recognises International Driving Permits issued under the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic. Delegations requiring additional chauffeur-driven vehicles can arrange for this through car hire companies. 22. Please note that check-in time for international flights is two hours prior to departure. The time from your hotel to Sénou International Airport is approximately 40 minutes. However, to avoid any inconvenience, delegations are requested to inform the Logistics Coordinator of the departure dates and times of the Head of Delegation and other members. Security 23. Security will be provided for the Conference participants at the Bamako International Conference Centre. Under no circumstances will weapons be

4 4 allowed into the premises of the Bamako International Conference Centre. Elsewhere, certain universal safety precautions need to be observed, such as not placing handbags, briefcases, purses or mobile phones on front passenger seats or leaving them in full view from outside the vehicle. More advice can be obtained from hotels, the Conference Secretariat and official tourist information centres. Foreign exchange and banking, communication facilities and travel/tourist office 24. There is no restriction to the amount or kind of foreign currency or travellers cheques that can be brought into Mali. The foreign exchange desk and banks will provide information on exchange rates and transfer procedures. A bank/foreign exchange desk will be available on Conference premises and most banks in Mali have cash dispensers that accept Visa and MasterCard. Most internationally recognized currencies and travellers cheques can be exchanged at commercial banks, hotels and international airports. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Bureau de Change facilities are also widely available. The monetary unit is the CFA Franc (FCFA). At the time of printing the exchange rate was approximately 528 FCFA to 1 US Dollar and 655 FCFA to 1 Euro. Banking hours are 08:00 hours to 16:30 hours on weekdays and 08:00 hours to 14:00 hours on Saturdays. 25. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Mali by individual non-residents provided the amount is declared on arrival to facilitate its exit on departure. Business and shopping hours 26. Shopping hours vary but most shops in Bamako are open 08:00 to 18:00 hours Monday through Saturday. Some shops are open Sunday 09:00 to 17:00 hours. Value-added tax 27. Value-added tax (VAT) is charged on most goods and services except when purchased in duty-free shops at international airports. The current rate is 18%. Hotel accommodation 28. There is a wide range of accommodation available, from the worldclass five star hotel to the more economic. Delegates are urged to book their accommodation without delay to avoid disappointment. For all accommodation bookings and enquiries please complete the registration form and send it to the National Organising Committee, Bamako, Mali, with a copy to the Conference Secretariat in Accra, Ghana (see paragraph 12 above), not later than 23 December Special group rates have been negotiated for delegates who book through the above addresses. Please note delegates are required to settle their own hotel bills on departure at the latest, including meals, bar, tips, telephone, laundry, etc. A list of hotels is appended to this document. Weather 30. During the month of January the temperature in Bamako ranges from a minimum of 18C to a maximum of 33C. Air humidity ranges from 16% to 39%. Time zone 31. The country is on GMT. Voltage 32. The voltage in Bamako is 220v AC and the sockets are rounded and two-pronged.

5 5 Customs 33. Visitors are allowed limited amounts of duty free items which they must declare. Imports of professional articles and samples, including, cameras and photographic equipment, radios and recording equipment, and materials imported by foreign correspondents or other specialized materials imported for professional use and sports firearms, are subject to special authorization. Airlines 34. Airlines serving Mali: 1. Air France 2. Air Sénégal International 3. Air Burkina 4. Air Ivoire 5. Air Mauritanie 6. Air Gabon 7. Air Algérie 8. Tunis Air 9. Royal Air Maroc 10. Africa Airways 11. STA 12. Cameroon Airlines 13. Ethiopian Airlines. Handicrafts 35. 1) Marché Artisanal de Bamako 2) Village Artisanal de Gao 3) Village Artisanal de Tombouctou Leisure 36. 1) Le Tempo Night Club Quartier du Fleuve Tel. : ) Akwaba, Quartier du Fleuve Tel.: ) Le Byblos, Quartier de Hippodrome Tel.: ) Le Platinium, Quartier Bamako- Coura Tel: ) Blabla Club, Quartier Badala Sema 6) Grand Hôtel Tél. : , Fax : , grandhotel@cefib.com 7) Hôtel Al Mounia, Korofina Nord (near former Cuban Embassy) Tel: , Fax: ) Hôtel Aquarius Torokobougou rue: 305, porte : 100, Tel: , Fax : ) Hôtel Le Baobab, Faso Kanu, Tel: , , Fax : ) Hôtel Behan, Hamdalaye plateau route Lycée Prospère Camara, rue : 86, porte : 72, Tel Fax : ) Hôtel Le Relais, route de Koulikoro, Tel: , Fax: , campa2@afribone.net.ml 12) Hôtel Mandé, Cité du Niger, Tel: , Fax ) Nord Sud, Tel : , , Fax: ) Hôtel Plaza, Niaréla Sud, Tél: , , Fax: , hotelplaza@cefib.com 15) Hôtel Kempeski, Quartier du Fleuve, Tel: , Fax: kempeski-elfarouk@cefib.com 16) Hôtel Mirabeau, Tel: , Fax: ) Hôtel Salam, Tel : , Fax: , salam@cefib.com 18) Hôtel le Mistral Djélibougou, Tel: , 19) Sofitel, Hôtel de l Amitié, Tel: , Fax: , h573@accordhotels.com

6 6 APPENDIX A HOTEL RESERVATION AND NOTIFICATION OF ARRIVAL FORM 1. Name: Family name Given name 2. Country/Organization: 3. Title and position: 4. Address (postal and cable): 5- Attending as: Head of Delegation Delegate Observer Secretariat 6. Accompanied by spouse: Yes No Name of spouse: 7. Dates of anticipated stay in Bamako: to 8. Arrival information: Date: Hour: Airline and flight No: From (city): 9. Hotel accommodation desired: Single Double Suite 10. Please indicate hotel names by order of preference: A B: C NOTE: Each participant is required to complete the above form in duplicate and send one copy to each of the addresses below as soon as possible, preferably one month before the Conference, even if complete flight information is unavailable. You may cable, fax or flight information details at a later date.

7 7 a. Mr Madhy BAMBA Conference Secretary FAO Regional Office for Africa Gamel Abdul Nasser Road PO Box GP 1628 Accra, Ghana Tel (233) Or (233) Fax: (233) b. Mr Souleymane SIDIBE Chairman of the National Organising Committee of the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Africa (CNO-FAO) 03 BP 201 Bamako Republic of Mali Tel-Fax. (223) (223) (223) Fax: (223)

8 E APPENDIX B LIST OF HOTELS NAME OF HOTEL KEMPESKI HOTEL - EL FAROUK Quartier du Fleuve BP E : 5063, Bamako TEL: FAX: : KempeskiElfarouk@Cefib.Com SOFITEL - HOTEL DE L AMITIE TEL: FAX: H573@Accord-Hotels.Com HOTEL SALAM BP E : 104, Bamako TEL: FAX: Salam@Cefib.Com LE GRAND HOTEL TEL: / HOTEL PLAZA TEL: / FAX: HOTEL MANDE CITE DU NIGER TEL: / / FAX.: NUMBER OF ROOMS 90 and 10 suites DISTANCE FROM CONFERENCE CENTRE CATEGORY 1 km 5 star Internet connection km 5 star Internet connection m 5 star Internet connection 87 and 4 suites flats 50 and 5 suites 4 km 4 star Internet connection 3 km 4 star Rooms not 4 km 4 star Rooms not INTERNET COST IN FCFA* SERVICES Single Double Suite 60,000 (tax excluded) 60,000 (tax excluded) Junior : 100,000 Senior : 125,000 (tax excluded) 85,000 85,000 Junior Suite : 120,000 Suite : 137,800 65,000 65,000 Junior : 95,000 Presidential Suite : 150,000 55,000 55,000 Junior : 75,000 40,000 55,000 80,000 42,000 42,000 55,000 Appartment: 80,000

9 2 OLYMPE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL TEL: /63 - FAX: olympehotel@yahoo.fr Web: RESIDENCE KOME *Bamako BP E 2566 TEL: FAX: komersidence@arc.net.ml HOTEL NORD-SUD Bamako -Mali TEL.: / 01/ 02/ 03 FAX.: : hotel.nordsud.mali@cefib.com Web: HOTEL LE MISTRAL TEL: HOTEL MIRABEAU BP E.: 3506, Bamako TEL : FAX.: HOTEL LE RELAIS TEL.: / / km 4 star Rooms not 45 and 6 suites 58 and 4 suites 4 km 4 star Internet Connection 3 km 4 star Internet Connection 16 4 km 3 star Rooms not 48 1 km 3 star Rooms not km 2 star Internet Connection 31,950 36,450 Junior: 58,950 Senior: 72,450 40,000-45,000 45,000 Junior : 55,200 Senior : 75,000 25,000 30,000-30,000 39,000 * 1 Dollar = 550 FCFA approximately as at December 28, 2005.