Indian minister to visit Sudan 7 november

Nov 5, 2005 (NEW DELHI) — India and Sudan will strengthen their political and economic ties when Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed goes to Sudan on a three-day visit Monday.
Boosting trade relations tops the agenda of Ahamed who will be accompanied by a business delegation.

This is the first official visit from India to Sudan after the formation of the Government of National Unity in Sudan in September as envisaged under the historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

“The visit is aimed at establishing high-level political contact with the Sudanese Government of National Unity,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

Ahamed represented India at the signing of the historic peace treaty between the government of Sudan and SPLM leader John Garang in Nairobi in January this year. He also represented India at a donors’ conference on Sudan in Oslo in April where India pledged a grant of $10 million, and a concessional line-of-credit of $100 million for the reconstruction of that country.

Besides boosting trade, Ahamed will discuss with Sudanese leaders the possibility of expanding cooperation in other areas such as infrastructure development, power generation, water supply and management, agriculture, education, IT and health.

(IANS/ST)