Brussels, 9 December 2014/ ACP: Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister Hon. Sato Kilman signed the National Indicative Programme for his country with European Development Commissioner Mr. Neven Mimica today, in the margins of the ACP Ministerial Committee on Development Finance.

According to the agreement, EUR 31.3 million from the 11^th European Development Fund will be made available for the period 2014-2020, an increase of 35% from the previous cycle.

Rural development has been selected as the single focal sector.

“I sincerely hope that 11^th EDF support will be able to contribute in a tangible way to improving agricultural livelihoods and jobs in rural areas and outer islands, and thereby also help to fight poverty and limit urban drift,” said Mr. Mimica.

Hon. Kilman reiterated the importance of strengthening relations with the European Union. EU has recently appointed an Ambassador accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, as well as a Head of Development Operations based in the Solomon Islands.

The signing ceremony took place at ACP House in Brussels, leading up to the 100^th session of the ACP Council of Ministers, which opens 10^th December 2014.

(Photo: Foreign Minister of Vanuatu Hon. Sato Kilman and European Development Commissioner Mr. Neven Mimica at the ACP House).

For more information, contact Press Officer Ms. Josephine Latu-Sanft, +32 2 7430617 or [email protected].