Meeting Highlights Role of g7+ for Conflict Affected States

Dili, August 27, 2011 – Today at a meeting of representatives of the g7+ World Bank Managing Director, Sri Mulyani Indrawati commended the Government of Timor-Leste for leading the group which is working to give fragile and conflict affected countries a greater voice on the global stage.

Through the g7+ the Government of Timor-Leste has helped build a global forum that highlights the unique challenges faced by fragile states, supports their transition to stability and leadership and provides an opportunity for them to share solutions for building stronger countries.

“The world is changing. Alongside traditional groups like the G20 we are seeing new and equally important forums for collective action and collaboration like the g7+, offering essential perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges in some of the world’s most fragile environments,” said Sri Mulyani. “What better place could there be for identifying solutions for the unique challenges affecting fragile and conflict affected states than this global forum, homegrown in Timor-Leste?”

Established in April 2010 in Dili and led by Timor-Leste, the g7+ is a group of 17 states working to support more effective engagement in fragile and conflict-affected countries and regions across the world.

The World Bank support for Timor-Leste and the g7+ initiative is consistent with the Bank’s mission from the onset - of supporting countries devastated by warfare and engaging with the profound development challenges in fragile and conflict affected states. Conflict causes human misery, destroys communities and infrastructure and cripples economic prospects.

Our recent World Development Report shows that countries must focus on building capable national institutions, citizen security, justice and jobs and the g7+ can help countries take address these challenges.

Sri Mulyani stated that transparency and inclusivity will be essential for building secure and prosperous futures for g7+ member states and their people.

The World Bank continues to support the g7+ as an important forum for countries to share international expertise and know-how, while also inspiring local reforms to achieve real and lasting development results.

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