Sudanese minister of economy meets with SPLM MPs

November 2, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s chief of economic and financial matters met with Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) parliamentary deputies in an apparent effort to broaden the base of participation in economic affairs and discussion of the budget for next year.

Minister of Finance and National Economy Awad Al-Jaz addressed concerns about the economy in a plenary meeting Saturday with the SPLM deputies (MPs) to the National Assembly. Al-Jaz discussed a national plan for reactivating the performance of the non-oil sectors—particularly the agricultural sector—to lessen dependence on petroleum exports, especially under the current international financial crisis and drop in oil prices.

The MPs of the SPLM parliamentary group lauded the consultative method adopted by the minister on the general budget for the financial year 2009.

The minister pointed out that implementation of the programmes for making unity attractive is considered as a joint responsibility between the federal government and the government of Southern Sudan, affirming the concern of the government of national unity with the projects for linking the north and the south in the fields of river transport, electricity and water.

The minister affirmed that the new budget will increase production and develop renewable resources, referring to social programming efforts for combating poverty on six axes: health, education, water, micro-financing, partnerships and social projects.

Sudan is ruled by a coalition of the SPLM and the National Congress Party (NCP), which formed the Government of National Unity after the 2005 peace agreement. According to the peace agreement, until parliamentary elections take place, the SPLM is to hold 28% of seats in the national assembly and the NCP is to hold 52%.

(ST)