RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday signed four agreements with Sudan to enhance cooperation in the fields of agricultural investment as well as to support the African country in boosting water and irrigation projects and addressing power shortage. The agreements were signed in the presence of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir in Riyadh. King Salman held wide ranging talks with Al-Bashir, including the ways of further strengthening the entire gamut of bilateral relations. They also discussed the latest developments in the region. The visiting dignitary also attended a luncheon hosted by the King, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Minister of Agriculture Abdurahman Al-Fadhli and Sudanese Minister of Water Resources and Electricity Muataz Musa signed the partnership agreement in agricultural investment in Upper Atbara agricultural project. Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Sudanese Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Badr Al Din Mahmoud signed three framework agreements. The Council of Ministers on Monday gave the go ahead to sign the agreements. Among the three agreements, the first one is for supporting the 1,000 megawatts Red Sea Electricity Project with transmission line to address the power shortage on an urgent basis. Under the second agreement, the Kingdom will contribute to the thirst eradication plan in the Sudanese countryside and water distribution schemes for a period from 2015 to 2020. According to the third agreement, the Kingdom will finance the Kajbar, Shuraik and Dal dam projects of Sudan. The signing ceremony was attended by several high ranking officials from both the countries. They included Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior; Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense; Minister of the National Guard Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah; Prince Faisal Bin Bandar, emir of Riyadh, and Sudanese Foreign Minister of Foreign Ibrahim Ghandour.
