World Bank vows to push donors to meet Sudan pledges

Aug 9, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The visiting World Bank Vice-President for Africa vowed in Khartoum to urge donors to meet pledges of Oslo Conference and to normalize its relations with the Sudan.

The World Bank’s Vice-President for Africa Region, Gobind Nankani, said that they would work with GoNU and the international community to urge donors to fulfill their pledges during Oslo Conference last year which amounts to 550 million US dollars to assist people of Sudan who had suffered for long time during the period of war and now they are waiting peace’ fruits.

He pointed out that the bank would work for full normalization of its relations with Sudan.

Nankani opened Wednesday the World bank’s office here in the presence of the Minister of Finance and National Economy, al-Zubeir Ahmed al-Hassan, State Minister for Finance, Lual Deng and the Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan (CBS).

Nankani, who is currently on a two-day visit to Sudan during which he will open the World Bank office in Juba town on Thursday, will meet senior officials of the Government of National Unity (GoNU) and the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) with the intention to review and improve effectiveness of the World Bank’s operational programme particularly the Multi- Donors Trust Funds (MDTFs) operating principles and function.

Minister of Finance said that Nankani’s visit to Sudan comes within the framework that the World Bank is the donors’ trustee on the two MDTFs. he pointed out that Sudan will benefit from MDTFs in reconstruction and rehabilitation particularly in the war- affected areas besides benefiting from World Bank’s technical assistance and consultancy which will help in donors’ convince to fulfill their pledges of Oslo conference in April 2005.

He added that Sudan made wide strides on peace and this visit indicated that Sudan’s relations progress towards normalization with the WB a mater that will enable it to benefit from loans and grants which are extended under the assistance and support of the bank.

Nankani considered his visit toKhartoum as a historical event in Sudan- World Bank relations, which commenced in 1957. He noted that the inauguration took place after 12 years of suspension in the relations.

Nankani said that the inauguration was a sign of partnership between Sudan and the WB and the bank will work with Sudan at technical level and capacity building to contribute to rebuilding and rehabilitation.

(ST)