Vice-Prez to visit South Sudan

This led to a referendum between January 9 and 16 this year,when 98.3 per cent of the population in Southern Sudan voted for seceding from the North.

With India already having a consulate in Juba,the government is expected to announce,during this visit,that it will be upgraded to an Embassy.

A team from New Delhi will visit the newly-formed nation to assist in developing agriculture. Rural development,education and health are the other priority areas. India will also extend assistance in the development of sectors such as horticulture,animal husbandry,technical training,HRD,hydrocarbons,and also in de-mining as decades of civil war have left quite a few areas in the country heavily mined.

From Indias energy requirement perspective,South Sudans oil assets yield about 1,00,000 barrels or more and India is keen for a very substantial engagement in this sector. ONGC Videsh Limited is in engagement with the South Sudan leadership,officials said,and they have offered training to the local population.