The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) ended on Friday, November 6, 2009, in Bujumbura, Burundi. The closing ceremony was presided over by the Burundian President, Pierre Nkurunziza, and Zambian President, Rupiah Banda, who is also the ICGLR's current chairperson. Speaking during the conference, Bank Group President, Donald Kaberuka, reaffirmed his institution's support to the Great Lakes region, recalling that the Bank Group was a co-organizer of the roundtable. He expressed satisfaction that the Bank Group would still support the ICGLR like it had always done since its inception because "stability and peace are preconditions for economic development."

He underscored that the region's prospects were great given the peace and stability dividends it had made over the years. The Bank Group remains committed to providing support to the ICGLR alongside other development partners. He pointed out that the Bank Group was hosting and managing a special fund for reconstruction and development (FSRD), one of the ICGLR's key instruments.

He urged donor countries not to miss the current opportunity to provide support to the region. At the end of the event, Mr. Kaberuka held a press conference alongside the ICGLR's Executive Secretary, Liberata Mulamula. He pointed, in particular, to the Bank's financial commitment to the sub-region as well as many regional infrastructure projects financed by the Bank Group.

Contacts

Joachim Arrey