East Sudan Conference in Kuwait Yields Positive
Results 75% of 4 Billion Dollar Goal Reached

Kuwait, 2 December 2010 – The International Donors and Investors Conference on East Sudan under the patronage of His Highness the Esteemed Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and by the Prime Minister of Kuwait, H.H Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, ended this morning. The grand total of pledges and planned contributions exceeds 3 billion US dollars, including the commitment from the Government of Sudan.

“The conference was a success on many levels” said the Sudanese Presidential Advisor on Eastern Sudan, H.E Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail. The conference was attended by a total of 42 countries and was covered by 43 Arab and international media representatives. The total number of participants in the conference was 675.

Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs will follow up with a visit to Sudan on the 21 of December. “We will work together with our brothers in Sudan to translate these pledges on the ground into realities” said Sheikh Dr. Mohammed in his closing remarks.

A steering committee will continue to oversee the implementation of the projects. The estimated time frame for project implementation in Eastern Sudan is 5 years.

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For more information please contact:
Kumar Tiku: Head, Communications Unit, UNDP Sudan: kumar.tiku@undp.org

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.