The Sudanese authorities have recently adopted a new anti-poverty strategy aimed at reducing the poverty rate in the country to below 10 percent by 2005 and 5 percent by 2010. This strategy, reported by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, also seeks to reduce the illiteracy rate, which presently encompasses seven million inhabitants, to 25 percent in 2005 and to 10 percent by the year 2010.
Last month, Gulf Daily News reported that the Sudanese Finance Minister, Mohammed Khair Al Zubair stated upon returning from Washington, that his country’s foreign debt presently totals $20 billion, including $1.6 billion to the IMF.
During the minister’s visit to Washington, the IMF lifted a seven-year suspension of Sudan’s voting rights, in recognition of the country’s sincere efforts toward returning its debts. Al-Zubair added, that he expected the international commercial, financial and economic institutions would now be inclined to deal with Sudan. –(Albawaba-MEBG)
