Upper Nile Governor discuss development opportunities in Germany

September 3, 2008 (BERLIN, Germany) – Upper Nile governor held talks with German officials and business community on the development prospects and opportunities in his state urging them to participate in the economic projects there.

Governor Gatluak Deng Garang and Steven Dheiu Dau, Upper Nile State’s for Finance, Trade and Economic Planning, met yesterday, 2/9/2008, in Berlin, Germany with Mrs. Carola Mueller –Holtkemper, Head of East Africa and the Horn of Africa in the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting discussed several issues pertaining to the economic development in the oil rich state, especially, in the areas of agriculture and food security.

“The Government of Germany has the expertise that we need in our State to organize our development programs,” the Governor said.

The Head of East Africa Division at the German Foreign Ministry assured the Governor that Germany has and will continue to support Sudan to implement development programs and help it succeed in this transitional period of the CPA implementation.

Holtkemper went to say that the level of care the Governor has shown to provide services to his people is impressive and worth supporting; “we will do our best to do what we can to sell this program to the German private sector,” she pledged.

The Governor and the Minister of Finance met today Afrika Verein, a German society in charge of connecting German businesses with Africa’s Private Sector to discuss the specifics of the programs, in Hamburg.

The parties agreed to identify the need of the Upper Nile and the areas of interest for the German firms. Garang before his departure will meet other economics actors to promote involvement of local firms in the development of the state.

The governor arrived to Berlin from China where he met Chinese officials and discussed implementation of housing and agriculture projects in the Upper Nile State.

(ST)