The Khartoum-based correspondent of Reuters interviewed H.E. MR. Abdelaziz KHELEF the Director General of BADEA on various issues of concern to the African continents. The interview took place at BADEA’S Headquarters on the 4th of November 2009.

Hereunder are excerpts:-

Arab bank to step up support for African agriculture

Wednesday November 04, 2009 03:52:10 PM GMT

* Arab bank to commit $1 billion to Africa over five years

* Share for food, agriculture projects to increase

KHARTOUM, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) is to step up funding for agriculture projects to help
governments stave off future food price crises and droughts, the bank's Director General said.

Abdelaziz Khelef told Reuters the bank would increase total
commitments to $1 billion under a new 2010-2014 five-year plan, a $100 million increase from the previous plan.

A quarter of that money would now go to agricultural and food security
projects, up from less than 20 per cent in the last five-year period, he added.

BADEA was set up by countries in the Arab League to make grants and soft loans to development projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Sudan and other North African League members do not benefit.

"Most African countries are facing a very difficult situation in terms of food security ... And many African countries shifted their
priorities towards food security," Khelef said in an interview in the bank's Khartoum headquarters late on Tuesday.

"We go with the priorities of African countries. We try to really help them implement their plans."

Khelef said the bank would be interested in supporting irrigation schemes and building rural food marketplaces.

It was also interested in helping fund regional trade blocs and long term government food security strategies.

Half the bank's total funding pot would go on African infrastructure projects, he said, particularly new roads to boost trade between
regions and neighbouring countries.

Khelef said the bank did not have an emergency fund to help farmers caught up in the drought reported in parts of east Africa. "But we can
help them develop projects to avoid a repetition of this kind of crisis in future."

Global food prices rose sharply in 2008 and many developing countries saw shortages and hoarding.

There was also unrest as farmers in poor countries complained they did not see their incomes rise as a result.

 (Reporting by Andrew Heavens;
editing by James Jukwey)
ENDS
Andrew Heavens