Press Release

The Sudan welcomes OFID delegation

Sudanese President Al-Bashir receives Director-General Al-Herbish

03/2007 February 1, 2007 Khartoum, the Sudan
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The President of the Republic of the Sudan, HE General Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, today received OFID Director-General, Mr. Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, who called to discuss relations between Khartoum and the Vienna, Austria-based OFID. Mr. Al-Herbish, at the head of a high-level OFID management delegation, is in the Sudan on an official mission to the country, which began January 27.

President Al-Bashir told Mr. Al-Herbish that the Sudan was pleased with its long-standing ties with OFID. He thanked Mr. Al-Herbish for years of uninterrupted cooperation, despite difficult international circumstances. The Sudan is a priority country of OFID, as are other least developed countries of the world.

Responding, Mr. Al-Herbish equally thanked the President for his country’s sustained readiness to cooperate fully on all projects and programs with OFID. He informed the President and his aides that OFID was committed to working with the developing world to accelerate social and economic advancement and make a dent on poverty. Mr Al-Herbish reiterated a pledge that the poorer countries of the world will continue to enjoy pride of place in the apportionment of assistance by OFID. Mr. Al-Herbish also commended the pace of economic development in the sub-Saharan African country.

President Al-Bashir’s meeting with Mr. Al-Herbish today, February 1, follows signature, January 31, of a financing agreement with the Sudanese White Nile Sugar Company, between the two parties. Mr Al-Herbish reminded the President that relations between the Sudan and OFID had begun as far back as in 1976, the very year of OFID’s establishment. OFID projects and programs have since been continuing in all sectors of the Sudanese economy, with both public and private sector beneficiaries.