The World Bank granted the Sudanese government, represented by the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, an amount of $500 million for irrigation and drinking water sectors.
Khartoum: AlTaghyeer
The Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Professor Yasser Abbas, announced that the World Bank has provided a grant of “500” million dollars to the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources.
The minister met with the Director of the World Bank in East Africa, Eng. Ousmane Dione, Wednesday, to discuss the implementation of the grant provided by the World Bank and the detailed procedures for implementing work programs.
According to Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the minister stated that the grant includes “300” million dollars for the irrigation sector and “200” million dollars for the drinking water sector.
He stressed that the formation of the project implementation unit will start during the current month, provided that studies will have begun and finished by the end of the year, moving the actual implementation date to the beginning of the new year.
Minister Yasser Abbas also discussed issues of irrigation and drinking water sectors with Ousmane Dione.
Both the Sudanese government and the IWB delegation agreed to form a joint working group to design and implement projects submitted by the ministry as soon as possible.
A Return to the International Community
Last Monday, the Minister of Irrigation met with the Executive Director of the IWB for the group of countries that includes Sudan, Nimadzibo Tauvla, and they discussed issues of the water sector in the country.
The meeting was witnessed by the Director General of Drinking Water and Sanitation at the Ministry Hisham Al-Ameer and a number of officials.
Al-Ameer explained that the IWB delegation, after listening to the Sudanese side, will return to Washington to start preparing for a number of projects.
Sudan retrieved its relations with international financial institutions, most recently with the World Bank, in the beginning of this year.
This has made Sudan become eligible for full participation with the World Bank Group after nearly three decades of hiatus.
