The launching ceremony was attended by high ranking Government officials, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of UN agencies and the World Bank, academics and the public.

The center is located in the premises of the Government owned National Public Library.

The center makes accessible to the public books, publications, research papers, bulletins and other resources produced by the United Nations agencies and the World Bank. DIC also provides a web service, reading rooms a mini conference room.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mozambique Education Minister Mr. Aires Aly said that this center will contribute greatly to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals of the “Education for all by 2015”. “We are convinced that DIC will contribute to social, cultural and scientific progress as its activities are geared towards making access to knowledge widespread, promote debates on development issues globally and in Mozambique in particular.”

The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Ndolamb Ngokwey, said that the development of a country has necessarily to include capacity building of its human capital, an indispensable resource for development. “”It is therefore our expectation that this place will be a living centre, a true public arena where the national debate on development will take place and provide a valid contribution to the development of this beautiful country and its wonderful people””.

For the World Bank representative to the inauguration, Ms. Susan Hume, the DIC poses opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity is to use the center to its full capacity in our mission to eradicate poverty. The challenge is to make the center relevant by making it known to the public, publizing its services so that it can be fully utilized.

For more information, please contact

Luis Zaqueu, UN RCO Communication Officer,

Resident Coordinator’s Office,

Mobile : +258 82 308 2470

Office: +258 21 48 51 58/59,

E-mail : luis.zaqueu@undp.org

Nelson Xavier, UNDP Communication Officer.

Mobile phone: + 258 82 3140600

Office + 258 21 481438

E-mail: nelson.xavier@undp.org