UK Department for International Development representatives and UN agencies operating in Sudan affirmed during a meeting with the state minister at the ministry of finance in Khartoum on Friday that the international community is willing to provide technical support to Sudan to reinforce its economic reform program. Following the meeting Friday, a joint document stressed efforts to restore confidence between the Khartoum government and the international community and to prepare a plan to benefit from the support programs offered by the international community to Sudan. The conferees agreed that the document’s implementation would encourage Arab Gulf countries to increase their support to Sudan and make new investments it. State minister at the Sudanese ministry of finance Tareq Hasan Shalabi told Asharq Al-Awsat that his country has moved ahead in implementing economic reform programs since the start of 2018 without international assistance, which caused a deficit especially with the rise in prices of subsidized goods. European Union Ambassador to Sudan Jean-Michel Dumond said the EU was willing to support the country economically, especially in financial reforms on expanding taxation. Dumond and Osama Faisal, minister of state at the Sudanese ministry of foreign affairs, discussed a number of local, regional and international issues of mutual concern. They also agreed to hold more talks to deepen bilateral ties. The World Bank has expanded its economic team working in Sudan to provide the required technical assistance and help the country face its economic challenges. According to sources, the World Bank delegation that visited Sudan two months ago was briefed on the government’s preparations for a strategy on fighting poverty.