The Nile Basin States will on 14th May, 2010, open the Agreement on the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework for signature for a period of one year.

This is pursuant to the decision made during the Extra Ordinary Nile Council of Ministers Meeting held on 13th April, 2010 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The Cooperative Framework Agreement will formalize the transformation of the Nile Basin Initiative into a permanent Nile River Basin Commission and facilitate its legal recognition in the member Basin States as well as Regional and International organizations.

This is the culmination of over ten years of negotiations among the Basin States.

The ceremony will start at 11:00 am at the Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat.