Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) More than a month after its second forum summit with Africa, India is set to unveil a host of capacity building projects for the development of South Sudan when Vice President Hamid Ansari Friday goes to Juba to attend the birth of Africa’s newest nation.

“India has multifaceted relations with Sudan and substantial ties with the country. We look forward to the continued growth and diversification of our relations with South Sudan as it charts its independent destiny,” Sanjay Singh, secretary (East) in India’s external affairs ministry, told reporters a day ahead of Ansari’s three-day visit.

Accompanied by senior officials, Ansari will head to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, an oil-rich country, Friday via Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

He will hold talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Friday evening before heading to Juba the next morning for the celebrations to mark the formal proclamation of the Republic of South Sudan.

The three-hour long proclamation ceremony will be attended by a host of world leaders, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The celebrations will include military parade, national anthem, prayers followed by formal proclamation of the independence of South Sudan, which would be read out by South Sudan Legislative Assembly Speaker James Wani Igga.

There will be a flag ceremony followed by a 21-gun salute and the national anthem of the Republic of South Sudan.

South Sudan President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit will host a lunch for the invitees.

India has already pledged $5 million in development assistance to South Sudan and capacity building projects such as a Vocational Training Centre and a Rural Technology Park. Another $5 million has been pledged for building a hospital.

In his meeting with President Mayardit, Ansari is expected to renew India’s commitment to the development of the North African country and may also announce fresh grants and lines of credit for capacity building projects.

Ansari is expected to announce that the Indian consulate in Juba will be upgraded to an embassy soon.

Ansari will also seek an assurance from the leadership of South Sudan on whether India’s oil deals struck with Kharotum will be honoured by the government in Juba as most of oil wells are located in South Sudan and refineries and pipelines are in Sudan.

The picture will become clearer after the governments of two Sudans work out an oil revenue-sharing arrangement.

India’s ONGC Videsh Limited has stakes in several wells in Sudan, with production now standing at 160,000 barrels per day. Of this, 100,000 barrels per day of production comes from wells now falling within South Sudan.

Since the referendum in January in which residents of South Sudan voted overwhelmingly in favour of seceding from the rest of Sudan, India has held a series of meetings with the leaders of the new country to chart out its bilateral engagement.

During Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed’s visit to Juba last month, India firmed up a road map for intensifying cooperation with South Sudan, said Singh.

Education, health, capacity building and agriculture will be key features of India’s engagement with South Sudan. India has already announced 75 additional seats under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme for South Sudan.

New Delhi also plans to extend the entire package of Pan-Africa E-Network, including its tele-medicine and tele-education components, to South Sudan.