Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Gebreil Ibrahim and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Country Director for Sudan, David Motoku, and his accompanying delegation discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership between Sudan and the Bank. The meeting also addressed a number of key issues, including Sudan’s portfolio with the Bank, ongoing and future development projects, and arrangements related to the Sudan Country Brief Strategy for 2027–2029. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, the meeting reviewed ongoing projects under Sudan’s AfDB portfolio, their implementation progress and the importance of continued coordination to ensure that their objectives are achieved and the allocated financing is effectively utilized. The meeting also reviewed recently signed new projects scheduled for launch in September, while the AfDB has allocated substantial funding for four additional projects expected to enter into implementation in 2027. The Finance Minister stressed the importance of prioritizing financing for the energy sector in view of the extensive destruction and damage sustained by its infrastructure and the resulting major challenges to electricity supplies. He underscored the need to support efforts to rehabilitate the sector and strengthen its capacity to meet the needs of the coming phase. The two sides emphasized the importance of the Country Brief Strategy, which is intended to provide an interim framework for development cooperation and financing during 2027–2029 while maintaining continuity in the partnership between Sudan and the AfDB and restructuring and redirecting existing projects and available resources toward the sectors of greatest priority and need, particularly education, health, water, agriculture, energy, environment and social protection. The Minister stressed the importance of enhancing coordination among relevant authorities and completing the necessary technical and administrative arrangements for meetings in accordance with the program prepared by the AfDB mission, in a manner that contributes to finalizing the strategy in line with Sudan’s development priorities during the coming period. These initiatives come within the framework of strengthening the partnership between Sudan and the AfDB, maintaining continuity in development cooperation, and directing existing and new resources and projects toward Sudan’s fundamental priorities and needs, supporting vital sectors, contributing to recovery and reconstruction efforts, and enhancing food security during 2027–2029.BH/BH