India offers defence equipment technology to Sudan
BANGALORE, Dec 14, 2003 (PTI) — India has offered military training and defence equipment technology to Sudan for the ambitious 20 year plan to revive and develop its Army, Sudanese Defence Minister Maj Gen Bakri Hassan Salih said on Sunday.
“We have an ambitious 20 year plan for the revival of the development of Sudanese Army. India has demonstrated its political will and determination in this process,” Salih told reporters after his visit to the Bharat Earth Movers Ltd factory, a defence undertaking, here.
He said the training would encompass the Navy, Army and the Air Force, besides technical institutions in Sudan. Salih, who called on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Defence Minister George Fernandes at New Delhi on Saturday, said India had committed to transfer of defence technology to the African nation, which is close to signing a peace agreement with rebels in the country.
“We want all equipment that is produced in India,” he said, adding that the Sudanese delegation had visited several defence establishments in the country including BEML.
“There are several areas of cooperation which we discussed with George Fernandes… what is important is at the political level, the level of commitment and preparedness of the Indian side. We will evaluate our needs before we come back for agreement or signing contracts,” Salih said.
He said a delegation led by Sudanese oil minister visited New Delhi last week, the first after Kalam’s Sudan visit.