UNDP and Turkey sign $15 million agreement

ISTANBUL

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark praised Davutoğlu, for the Turkish government’s commitment to the program countries of the ECIS region. AA Photo

Turkey signed a five-year, $15 million agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on June 20 to support development in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS).

The moves are considered to be a signal of Turkey’s enhanced focus on sustainable and inclusive growth in the region.

“Development cooperation has become an integral part of Turkish foreign policy. In this framework, our partnership with the UNDP has also been strengthened with a view to enhance our contribution to sustainable development, not only in our region, but at the global level,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu during the signing ceremony, according to a statement sent by the UNDP.

“Turkey has already increased its voluntary annual contributions to the UNDP’s core budget to $3 million. With the agreement we signed today Turkey will contribute $15 million to the UNDP Regional Program for Europe and the CIS, which will be implemented by the UNDP Regional Service Center located in Istanbul,” he added.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark praised Davutoğlu, for the Turkish government’s commitment to the program countries of the ECIS region. Turkey will contribute $3 million annually over the next five years to the regional UNDP program.

“On behalf of UNDP, I would like to express my thanks for the significant financial contribution made by the Government of Turkey”, said Clark.