14 November 2006

U.S. Aid Agency Signs Millennium Challenge Agreement with Mali

$461 million "compact" one of the largest to date

 

Secretary Rice speaks at the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Compact Signing Ceremony with the Republic of Mali. Behind Secretary Rice are from left to right: Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs Moctar Ouane, Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure and MCC CEO Ambassador Danilovich. (Michael Gross/State Department)

Secretary Rice speaks at the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Compact Signing with the Republic of Mali. (Michael Gross/State Dept.)

By Kathryn McConnell
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States signed an agreement November 13 with President Amadou Toumani Touré of Mali to provide $461 million over five years to fund three sustainable development projects in the West African democratic nation.

The $461 million agreement -- or compact -- with Mali "embodies ... our commitment to democracy and development," said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a signing ceremony at the State Department.

The compact, signed by the head of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), John Danilovich, is one of the largest of the 11 multiyear agreements MCC has reached so far with an eligible developing country. It is the fifth made with a country in Africa.

The compact will fund job-creating infrastructure and managerial improvements to the international airport of Mali's capital, Bamako. This will lead to new economic benefits by stimulating tourism and allowing more efficient handling of Mali's goods for export, Danilovich said.

The MCC funding also will be used to help create an industrial park near the airport that will process the country's agricultural products for export and to develop an irrigation system that will help boost farm production on 16,000 hectares of land. (See related article.)

Rice praised Touré for his commitment to good governance and democracy, saying, "Malians are building a long-lasting capacity to spur their country's growth, to create economic opportunities and to build a future of hope for their children."

"Mali represents the hopes and aspirations of millions ... who yearn for freedom and prosperity," Danilovich added.

"A grant like this makes so much sense," said Representative Earl Pomeroy, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives Ways and Means and Agriculture committees.

 

Ambassador John J. Danilovich addresses the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact public meeting Tuesday, November 14, at the Reyburn House Office Building in Washington. (Kenneth White/State Dept.)

Ambassador John J. Danilovich addresses the MCC compact public meeting Tuesday, November 14 in Washington. (Kenneth White/State Dept.)

The compact demonstrates President Bush's vision that foreign aid should empower countries "to take an active role in their own development," Rice said.

The compact was designed by Malians from all sectors, with guidance from the MCC staff, said Kyeh Kim, MCC Mali country director. Kim spoke at the post-signing briefing.

At the post-signing event, Touré said Malians, working alongside U.S. advisers, now will be responsible for effectively carrying out the compact's objectives in a transparent manner.

Touré said his country already has benefited from U.S. support, especially from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and from U.S. citizens' volunteer work through the Peace Corps.

Mali is one of more than 120 democracies and democratizing nations, and the current chair of the Community of Democracies (CD), a coalition that includes civil society organizations.

On November 8, the MCC announced that its board of directors had selected Niger and Rwanda as two of three new countries to participate in the MCC Threshold Program.

The program helps countries address specific areas of identified policy weakness so they can become eligible to apply for project assistance. Rice chairs the board.

A transcript of the signing ceremony is available on the State Department Web site.

The full text of a press release about the signing is available on the MCC Web site.

For additional information, see Millennium Challenge Account.

(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)