Sudan to benefit from EU investment bank funding

KHARTOUM, June 20, 2004 (SUNA) — The government of Sudan has received a notification from the European Union (EU) Commission that it will sign the country’s strategy and programme paper after the signing of the six peace protocols.

This was announced by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Najib al-Khayr Abd-al-Wahhab, who said that the EU Commission expressed hope [that] agreements would be reached to secure restoration of stability in Darfur. He said that the EU affirmed the resumption of its development aid to Sudan after the signing of the final peace agreement immediately.

He said that the EU Commission explained that Sudan could benefit from the resources of the European Union Investment Bank to fund the private and public sectors.

The minister expected that the European Union’s development aid would be resumed in next July, and the country’s frozen dues, estimated at 450m Euros, would be released, besides paving the way for the funding of development projects in Sudan, as part of the EU’s development cooperation with East Africa and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group.