Consul-General of Sudan invites Belselah to participate in forum

It is being held under the patronage of His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and on the occasion of the anniversary of Sudanese Independence.

The Sudanese ambassador extended this invitation at a meeting with Mr. Belselah on January 21. It was also attended by the Vice Consul General of Sudan in Dubai, Mr. Yousif A. El-Kordafani. During the meeting Ambassador Shawer briefed Mr. Belselah on the initiative undertaken by the Consulate-General of Sudan and the Sudanese community in the UAE to hold the Investment and Cultural Forum under the theme "Enhancing Peace and Development in Sudan".

He invited Mr.Belselah to participate in the forum and speak on the arrangements being made by Dubai to host the 58th annual meetings of the Board of Governors of the World Bank Group and IMF in Dubai on September 23 and 24.

Ambassador Shawer said: "We are pleased to invite the General Coordinator of Dubai 2003 to participate in our forum to speak about the arrangements being made to host the prestigious meetings in September in Dubai. This event will also be attended by a high-level Sudanese delegation including the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the Sudanese Central Bank and leading businessmen from Sudan.

He said: "We greatly value this important gathering in Dubai in September, especially since it is the first time that the annual meetings of the Board of Governors of the World Bank Group and IMF is being hosted by an Arab country. We need to encourage and host similar international projects and programmes so that it will be of immense benefit to Arab states and help them face the challenges of globalisation.

Ambassador Shawer added that the government and people in Sudan admired and followed the astonishing progress of the UAE under the wise leadership of The President, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, His Highness, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai, His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.

He said: "UAE investment in Sudan is estimated at Dhs2 billion and continues to grow. Through the brotherly ties that exist between UAE and Sudan, we are confident of further enhancing Sudan-UAE cooperation in a number of areas".

Several Sudanese government ministers and experts will participate in the forum, which will be the first Sudanese event of its kind be held outside Sudan. The Sudanese delegation will be headed by the Sudanese President's Advisor for Peace Affairs, Dr. Ghazi Salaheldin and Ministers of Investment, Information and Communications.

The forum will include a fascinating exhibition titled "Sudan in the New Millennium" at BurJuman Centre while Sudanese ministers and experts will speak on a range of topics related to peace, development and investment in Sudan.

Mr. Ibrahim Belselah, General Coordinator of Dubai 2003, said: "We welcome the initiative undertaken by the Sudanese Consulate General to host the Sudanese Investment and Cultural Forum. We are aware that Sudan offers many investment opportunities to UAE and Arab entrepreneurs and events like this will further enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Dubai 2003 would like to wish every success to this initiative of the Sudanese Consulate General".

He said: "We are proud to make arrangements for hosting the annual meetings of the Governors of the World Bank Group and IMF under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Chairman of Dubai 2003. We will also be happy to welcome the distinguished guests from Sudan to this important international event".

"The assembly of prominent finance and government officials from all over the world and their deliberations will be a source of great encouragement not just to the UAE but to the entire Arab world. As we prepare to face the challenges, Arab nations have to take new initiatives that will support and promote joint Arab investment and introduce new methods to strengthen economic cooperation amongst them".

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. Dubai and the UAE were selected because of its highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.

ENDS