'Friends of Sudan' Postpones Donors’ Conference to Next June

Sudanese civilians wave their national flags during celebrations of the signing of the Sudan's power sharing deal, in Khartoum, Sudan (Reuters)
Sudanese civilians wave their national flags during celebrations of the signing of the Sudan's power sharing deal, in Khartoum, Sudan (Reuters)
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'Friends of Sudan' Postpones Donors’ Conference to Next June

Sudanese civilians wave their national flags during celebrations of the signing of the Sudan's power sharing deal, in Khartoum, Sudan (Reuters)
Sudanese civilians wave their national flags during celebrations of the signing of the Sudan's power sharing deal, in Khartoum, Sudan (Reuters)

The “Friends of Sudan” group promised to offer great support for the transitional government in Sudan to overcome the obstacles facing the country's transitional period and decided to postpone the donors' conference to June.

Sudanese Minister of Finance Ibrahim al-Badawi said: “Friends of Sudan” had agreed in the Stockholm meetings to hold the donors' conference on June 2020 and promised to disclose the sums expected to be donated to assist the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

The Minister described the Stockholm meetings as “successful”, adding that the coming donors' conference will be held following the meeting of the societal economic conference in Sudan, scheduled for March.

Badawi affirmed that Sudan's partners and friends have promised to provide considerable support to the country, indicating that he participated earlier in meetings organized by ''Friends of Sudan'' in Sweden.

The meetings would be followed by another one in Paris during which specified commitments are expected to be announced for the donors' conference scheduled for the first half of next June, according to the Minister.

Badawi stressed that donor countries can now extend their contribution after consultations with concerned ministries.

The “Friends of Sudan” was established in 2018 as an informal group, then it gained official status after the outbreak of the revolution in 2019. It includes a group of countries and organizations committed to joint action to provide support to the transitional government in the country.

Meanwhile, a member of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, Siddiq Tawer, inaugurated Tuesday the 5th International Mining Business Forum and Exhibition in Khartoum, with the participation of 55 international companies.

Tawer called for promoting the mining sector in Sudan by taking advantage of modern technologies, adding that this year’s conference takes place in light of new political and economic conditions after the December revolution.

The official pointed out that the civil mining is one of the challenges that affect the environment, and this sector needs to be managed in a special way that provides alternatives to transition to a more productive and harmless field for the environment and health of workers.

He cautioned against using the cheap technology that destroys the environment, explaining that the transitional government's strategy focuses on training and providing job opportunities for young people.

The three-day forum is organized by the Sudanese Ministry of Energy and Mining, represented by the Public Authority for Geological Research, and seeks to develop the sector and attract investments.

Also at the conference, the Sudanese Minister of Energy and Mining, Adel Ali Ibrahim hoped 2020 will be a year for mining, stressing that with efforts between the relevant authorities, the mining sector will occupy the leading and pioneering role in the Sudanese economy.



Syria, World Bank Discuss Tools to Support Syrian Economic Recovery

People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
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Syria, World Bank Discuss Tools to Support Syrian Economic Recovery

People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

Members of the Syrian government and a delegation from the World Bank discussed in Damascus tools to support Syria's economic recovery, the Syrian foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Sources told Reuters on Saturday that Syrian officials are planning to attend the annual spring meetings held by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, D.C. this month, which would be the first such visit in at least two decades.

Syria has around $15 million in arrears to the World Bank which must be paid off before the international financial institution can approve grants and provide other forms of assistance.

But Damascus is short of foreign currency and a previous plan to pay off the debts using assets frozen abroad did not materialize, according to two people familiar with the matter.

A technical delegation from the World Bank met with Syria's Finance Minister Mohammed Yosr Bernieh on Monday, according to the Syrian state news agency Sana.
The meeting, which was the first public meeting between the Syrian government and the World Bank, included discussions on strengthening financial and economic ties between the two sides.
Bernieh also highlighted the negative effects of the international sanctions imposed on Syria and policies of the former regime on the country's financial and banking sector.