Egypt pledges to establish agricultural research center in Juba

By Roba Gibia

October 31, 2008 (CAIRO) – Egyptian government pledged to establish a research center in Juba, in order to assist and support southern Sudan development in the field of agriculture

During his three day visit to Egypt to attend the Nile Valley Countries Conference, the GoSS Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Samson Kwaje had a meeting on October 29, 2008 with his Egyptian counter-part, Amen Abaza.

The minister Abaza reaffirmed Egypt’s total readiness to assist and support South Sudan in the field of agriculture, and promised to establish research center in Juba for agricultural studies.

The two Ministers discussed the means of developing bilateral relationships in the field of agriculture. Abaza expressed the willing of his government to support to boost South Sudan agricultural sector, and the possibility of executing some agricultural projects and agricultural investments.

The Egyptian Minister of agriculture also stressed on the importance of executing Junglei Canal project to lessen losing Nile water through evaporation, and assured on the importance of opening Nile River navigation between Kosti-Malakal-Juba for the smooth running of Nile Navigation and cargo and promised to visit South Sudan in the nearest future.

The Egyptian government is engaged in numerous projects in the fields of agriculture, health, education and irrigation to support development programmes in the south. Cairo also agreed to host southern Sudan TV in its Nile Sat recently.

Cairo also is encouraging Arab countries to support southern Sudan development and to invest in the semi-autonomous region. Also, Arab countries will hold a conference for development and investment in southern Sudan during the first trimester of next year.

(ST)