Donors conference seeks €2bn for development in Mali

The Donor Conference for Development of Mali organized jointly by the European Union and France in close collaboration with Mali will be held in Brussels tomorrow, Wednesday. EU sources told journalists here today that the aim of this conference is to mobilise and coordinate support from the whole international community for Mali's development. The Malian government has prepared a 12-point plan which needs an investment of 4.3 billion euro for the period 2013-2014 for the development of the country. Mali will contribute 2.3 bln euro and 2 bln euro is expected to come from the donors community, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The EU will announce a "substantial amount" at tomorrow's conference, noted the sources. Some 103 delegations from around the world including 10 heads of state and governments are expected to attend the one-day meeting. Gulf countries Kuwait, Qatar and UAE will also be attending, said the sources.