This year it is 50 years since the Storting decided to establish an Aid Fund for Underdeveloped Countries. The fund marked the beginning of Norwegian development cooperation, which will be celebrated in a number of different ways in 2002. The first event is the opening of a travelling exhibition on Tuesday 26 February at 18.30, followed by a gala concert, both to be held in Oslo Concert Hall. The Crown Prince, The Crown Princess and Prime Minister Bondevik will be among the guests. The Crown Prince will open the concert, and Prime Minister Bondevik will be the main speaker. The host for the evening will be Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson, who will open the exhibition.

The programme for the concert is an exciting one, featuring speakers and artists from Norway and abroad, such as Herborg Kråkevik, the Mari Boine Group, Triluk Gurtu (India) and Femi Kuti (Nigeria). The concert will be both a festive and a serious occasion, and will provide an excellent opportunity to thank all those who have championed the cause of the world’s poor.

On 4 March a seminar will be held, where the Government’s Action Plan for Poverty Eradication will be launched, and which will be attended by the Indian economist and Nobel Laureate in Economics, Amartya Sen.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a press release at a later date with more details about the various events to be held in connection with the anniversary.

Press contact: Head of Information Jon Mørland, mobile phone: 90 77 02 06.

For contact with any of the artists, please call Tom Gravlie at the Norwegian Concert Institute, tel. 22 01 55 33.