Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir yesterday opened the new branch of Al Salam Bank of Sudan in Khartoum.A large number of dignitaries, including ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and economic personalities, including Al Salam Bank chairman Mohammed Ali Al Abbar and other board members and senior officials of the bank attended.
Al Bashir, accompanied by Mr Al Abbar toured the various sections of the building premises to have first-hand information about its facilities. He was briefed about the bank's facilities, development and activities.
Mr Al Abbar expressed gratitude to the Sudanese President to officially open the new premises of the bank. He said the bank had now become a major player in Sudan's Islamic banking sector, thanks to the rapid growth of Sudan's economy and the giant leap forward made by the country's balanced economic development and transformation in its journey towards a total integration into the regional and international economy."Sudan is currently witnessing a rapid growth," he said.
"Having made great progress towards achieving its targeted five-year development plan, including maintaining inflation to within an 8.8 per cent limit on the average and achieving a 10pc GDP growth against the world's rate of 9.3pc in 2006.
"Generally, this reflects Sudan's success in its economic policies as well as the success of its financial and fiscal policy tools."This bank is a natural extension and significant development in bilateral relations between the private sectors of Gulf countries in general, and those of the UAE in particular," he said.