Sudan, India sign agreement on agricultural researches

June 12, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan and India signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of agricultural researches and training of researchers.

The memo was signed during a visit recently paid to India by a delegation led by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Engineer and comprising the Minister of Agriculture in Geziera State Azhari Khalafalla and Director-General of the Agricultural Bank and Mohamed Al-Amin Kabbachi.

During the visit, the delegation was briefed on India’s experiences in agricultural machines manufacturing and agricultural researches.

Sudan and India are moving towards deepening their economic, investment and development cooperation, particularly in the field of energy.

Indian OVL, the overseas arm of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, holds stakes of 24.12 percent and 23.5 percent in two blocks in Sudan, the largest African nation and also home to one of the biggest oil reserves in that region.

India currently gets around three million tonnes of oil from Sudan for the 25 percent equity stake held by OVL in the Greater Nile Oil Project – in which China and Malaysia also have stakes. The project produces around 12 million tonnes oil a year.

India signed on 23 January an agreement with the African nation for a 350 million dollar Line of Credit for setting up a 500 MW power project by state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.

The total project cost of about 500 million dollar is being shared by the two countries, with the Exim Bank of India giving a credit line of 350 million dollar.

In addition, the two countries also signed another loan agreement of 41.9 million dollars for Singa-Gedarif transmission line and sub-station.

(ST)