World BanK wants to enhance support to South Sudan
Aug 15, 2006 (JUBA) — The World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region, Gobind Nankani visited Juba on August 9th and 10th where he met senior officials of the government of south Sudan (GOSS) with the intention of accelerating the effectiveness of World Bank support for GOSS, particularly through the Multi Donor Trust Fund for southern Sudan (MDTF-S).
The Vice President’s first visit to south follows a high level meeting between Salva Kiir President of Southern Sudan and First Vice President of Sudan, and Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, held in Washington DC in July.
The two leaders agreed to move with all possible speed to overcome constraints and deliver on the programme funded by the donor community through the MDTF-S.
In his meeting with Salva Kiir Mayardit, Nanakani said “The World Bank is here to work with you as a partner to deliver quality results to the people of southern Sudan so they can enjoy the fruits of their prolonged waiting for peace”.
Following the signing of CPA, some US$ 4.5 billion was pledged by donors in Oslo for the reconstruction of south Sudan and war-affected areas of North Sudan. Of this amount, US$ 515 million was allocated for development needs, channeled through the two Sudan MDTF-S.
Ishac Diwan World Bank’s Country Director for Sudan and Ethiopia said during meetings with the highest level of south Sudan authorities. Our plan is to speed up the process of implementing projects and delivering services to your people, while more donors are motivated to contribute to MDTF-S.
At the press conference to mark the conclusion of his first visit to southern Sudan, Nankani renewed the world Bank’s determination in establish of strong partnership with the government of south Sudan to help deliver immediate results.
The Bank is also establishing a World Bank sub-national office in Juba to respond proactively to operational concerns on the ground and provide real-time advice and assistance.
Nankani opened Wednesday the World bank’s office in Khartoum 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), on 9 August.
He pledged to 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.
(ST)