Nov 9, 2006 (JUBA) — The World Bank said the Government of Southern Sudan has enough money from the oil revenue that can help in the provision of social services.
Speaking during Sudan oil conference on Thursday 2 November in Juba, the World Bank Chief Country Economist for Sudan and Ethiopia, Ms Jeni Klugman, said that if the southern Sudan quota from the oil revenue is used properly it will improve the living standards of the people.
“In 2006 the revenue per capita per person in southern Sudan is close to 200 dollars. And the resources available in southern Sudan to those available to the states in the North is Darfur where revenue per capita spending per capita is the order of 25 dollars you know in southern Sudan you have some thing like 200 dollars;” said Klugman.
The total oil revenue of southern Sudan amounted 865 millions US dollars in September 2006. September’s allocation for the southern Sudanese government totaled 2.148 billions US dollars, comprising the above oil revenue, 688 millions US dollars direct cash payment, and 595 millions US dollars withdrawals from the national oil revenue stabilisation account.
She also said the post-conflict situation in southern Sudan is better than that of East Timor and Afghanistan where majority of the people are poor.
Klugman said revenue from oil will be used well if government authorities practice good governance. She advised both the Governments of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan to establish transparent policies and encourage private investments in the country.
(SRS/ST)