His Majesty

King Abdullah on Saturday appealed for a new development partnership between the G-11, a group of

lower-middle income countries, and the industrialized nations of the G-8.



Such a partnership would signal to the world that that "the friends of development will not be satisfied until

the house of prosperity is really open to all, that our countries are not simply welcomed up the path; not

simply left at the door; but invited, gladly, over the threshold and into the house," King Abdullah said.



The King was addressing a summit of G-11 countries on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at

the Dead Sea. The meeting was attended by G-11 heads of state, or their delegates, and

representatives from Germany and Japan, the current and future heads of the G-8, respectively. The G-

11 groups developing countries whose commitment to reform has resulted in substantial economic and

social gains, but which remain vulnerable to numerous pressures that could threaten to undermine

development gains. The G-8 presidency has extended an invitation to the G-11 presidency, currently

held by Jordan, to discuss the establishment of a formal, institutional relationship between the two groups

in Berlin later this year.



For all the countries of the G-11, King Abdullah said, the budgetary space necessary to deepen

investments in development and growth "has been squeezed by fiscal and other constraints - high debt

burdens; rising oil prices and other external shocks; rising employment demand; and more." He said this

challenge made international support for continuing progress "vital".



The G-11 - grouping Croatia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Georgia, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco,

Pakistan, Paraguay and Sri Lanka - is an initiative of the King. It was inaugurated last autumn on the

sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and since then has identified four priority areas for international

support and cooperation: debt burden alleviation; investment promotion, trade development, and

targeted grant assistance.



"These are the basics for self-sustaining prosperity, supporting the foundations for reform, opening new

opportunities for millions more people to escape poverty, and enabling our young people to build strong

futures," King Abdullah said, adding that the G-11 was proposing specific initiatives in each area that

could serve as a foundation for G-8/G-11 cooperation. These include investment in infrastructure,

support for small and medium-sized enterprises, scientific research and development, and technology

transfer.