Sudan govt steps up economic reforms – minister

KHARTOUM, Sudan, June 02, 2004 (PANA) — Finance and Economy minister Azubeir
Ahmed Alhassan affirmed Tuesday that the Sudanese government was
stepping up reforms towards liberalisation.

“The government has achieved the greater part of reforms aimed at
maximising the role of the private sector particularly in direct
foreign investment and development projects,” Alhassan told an
economic forum here on appropriate policies and programmes for
post-war Sudan.

“Government involvement in the economy has to be exceptional, and
in any case must not compromise the drive for privatisation,” he
indicated, adding that the Finance and Economy ministry was
envisaging fiscal incentives including a tax-free agricultural
sector.

“We are seeking institutional reforms to encourage more regional
and international institutions to start working in Sudan,” the
minister said.