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KUWAIT
HOSTS INTERNATIONAL DONORS AND Kuwait, 1 December 2010 – The International Donors and Investors Conference for East Sudan inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Kuwait, H.H Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, commenced this morning. In his opening speech the Prime Minister said, the main interest of the participating countries is to “aid the brotherly nation of Sudan in resolving the conflicts and challenges that it is facing at present and move forward towards development under the umbrella of peace and security”. The Government of Sudan out of their national commitment to improve conditions in eastern Sudan, came to the table with a pledge of 1,572, 000,000 US dollars. Head of the Sudanese delegation, Assistant to the President, Mr. Musa Mohamed Ahmed announced that this pledge is, “to fund projects in education, health, water, electricity and transport, agriculture, irrigation and livestock in all three states of Eastern Sudan. “The
Kuwait Conference marks an important milestone for the Government of Sudan
in its engagement with the international community,” remarked Georg
Charpentier, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General United
Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of the UNDP,
Sudan. “We at UNDP are honored to be a partner of the Government
of Sudan in catalyzing efforts to kick-start activities geared to deliver
basic services and develop infrastructure in all three states of Eastern
Sudan to ensure balanced growth and progress on the UN Millennium Development
Goals.” 39 countries represented by 220 people, 70 regional and international organizations and Non-governmental Organizations, and 84 representatives of international and regional businesses participated in the conference. This conference will help East Sudan achieve its potential and restore the normalcy of life in the region, that is the particular interest of the Emir of Kuwait, said Mr. Abdelwahab Albader, Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arabic Economic Development in his opening remarks at yesterday’s press conference, held by the Kuwait Fund.
He
said, “Arab cooperation and investment is the right of all people”.
In response to questions about Kuwait’s pledge yesterday Albader
remarked that when invited to lunch one hopes to be fed. In fact the hosting
Government of Kuwait made a pledge of 500 million US Dollars today to
be disbursed through the Kuwait Fund at this morning’s first session.
Sheikh Mohammad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
said “450 million dollars will be allotted for infrastructure projects
in Eastern Sudan through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development
and the remaining 50 million dollars as a grant for social projects.” Further
pledges were made at this morning’s first session. The Iranian Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced that his government would invest
200 million dollars in various projects and introduced the idea that similar
conferences should be arranged for the other regions of the Sudan to promote
unity. The European Union's European Commission, represented by Dame Rosalind
Marsden, Special Envoy to Sudan, plan to contribute 24 million Euros.
Italy promised 3 million Euros. The Arab Investment Insurance Organisation
pledged to provide support for 300 million US dollars in investments.
*** For
more information please contact:
UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change
and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help
people build a better life.
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