(Recasts with total funding amount)
TOKYO, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Industrialized and oil-producingcountries on Thursday pledged $165 million to a World Bank fundto help ease economic transition in nations swept up in the ArabSpring popular uprisings.
The money came on the initiative of the "DeauvillePartnership," which was formed after uprisings last year inTunisia, Egypt and Libya ended decades-long dictatorships.
The partnership includes the Group of Eight major nations aswell as oil producers from the Middle East, including SaudiArabia and Kuwait.
The funds announced on Thursday are meant to provide grantsfor economic governance, trade, investment, and inclusivedevelopment and job creation. Countries are hoping to raise atotal of $250 million for this transition fund.
The United States pledged $50 million, Saudi Arabia andUnited Kingdom gave $25 million each, while Japan willcontribute $12 million over a three-year period.
(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Anna Yukhananov; Editing byChris Gallagher and Tim Ahmann)
((chris.gallagher@thomsonreuters.com)(81-3-6441-1842))
Keywords: JAPAN MIDEAST/AID