Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
Body:
SUDAN: Liberalization Program Approved
The International Monetary Fund and Saudi Arabia
are backing Sudan's plans to implement most of the eco-
nomic reforms requested by the IMF. The Sudanese Gov-
ernment has agreed to reduce its operating budget and
now will probably receive the latest payment from the
IMF's $257 million three-year stabilization program.
The IMF has agreed to help Sudan even though the govern-
ment has given in to political pressure and abandoned
plans to float the Sudanese pound; it will adopt a more
conservative two-tiered exchange rate system. The ex-
change rate for traditional exports and essential im-
ports will remain unchanged, while the rate for all other
transactions will be devalued by 17 percent. More im-
portant, the Saudis have pledged to provide Sudan with
a $300 million balance-of-payments loan, 2 million tons
of crude oil for next year, and financial assistance for
projects arising from the program.