Commissioner Piebalgs visits Mali on anniversary of donor conference to launch new projects

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, May 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — One year after the Donors’ Conference for Mali that was held in Brussels on 15 May 2013 and raised 3.3 billion euro to support the reconstruction of the country, EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, hosts an event in Bamako to follow-up on the commitments. During his visit, the Commissioner will inaugurate the resumption of works on the road between Niono and Timbuktu, in the north of the country, which had been interrupted during occupation of the area by rebels and terrorist groups. The road will be the first and only paved link between the capital Bamako and Timbuktu.

Ahead of his arrival in Mali, Commissioner Piebalgs said: “This event shows that the international community continues to stand side by side with the Malian people one year after. A lot of progress has already been made in recent months in the areas of development and governance. But much remains to be done to ensure that Malians can prosper in a safe and democratic society. The EU was one of the first to mobilise support in the recent crisis and the government can count on us to continue to provide help with rapid and concrete reforms.”

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