Date: 16 May 2014
His Excellency the Prime Minister of India
Through His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of India
Dear Prime Minister,
We, the undersigned, Sudanese citizens residing in the Europe, write to you in
connection with a serious corruption allegation that has recently surfaced in the Sudanese
media. It relates to a loan granted by the Government of India to the Government of Sudan,
in which an Indian company is implicated.
In 2009 the Indian Government signed an agreement with the Government of Sudan,
Granting a loan of 150 million US dollars to the Government of Sudan for the purpose of
Financing a sugar production project in the White Nile Sate. The project was to be run by
Mashkoor, a company owned by Khartoum State, White Nile state, the federal ministry of
finance and the bank of Sudan .
the minutes of the 13th Mashkoor board meeting on the 1st of April 2014 were leaked to
the media. There the Chairman of the Board of Directors, who happens to be the Federal ex-
minister of agriculture, informed the board that the Indian company OIA had the right to
implement the project because OIA facilitated the granting of the loan by the Indian
Government. The chair informed the board that they had entered in negotiations with OIA
as their bid at $ 150 million was too high. This resulted in Mashkoor agreeing to pay OIA a
commission of 15% of the total value of the Loan amounting to $22.5 million, in return for
their withdrawal, thus allowing the invitation of bidding from other Indian companies.
It is our understanding that this is in clear breach of the procedures of the Export and
Import Bank of India (EXIM), which is financing the project. The Bank’s policy clearly states
that the process of bidding should be competitive and transparent and the call for bidding
should be advertised in the Indian media. We are also aware that Loans are negotiated
between Governments without any intermediaries. The involvement of OIA in this project
without a bidding process raises a big question as does the alleged involvement of OIA in
the facilitation of the loan agreement.
We are shocked, as indeed, are a wide sector of the Sudanese people living in Sudan and in
the diaspora, at the alleged payment of a commission to OIA of 15 percent of the value of
the loan.
If this allegation is true, the Sudanese tax payer will be expected to pay this large sum plus
any interest, which is preposterous to say the least.
We respectfully request the Indian government to carry out an investigation to clarify the
truth behind these allegations.
Please find enclosed the following documents:
1. Minutes of the board of directors of Mashkoor company
2. Scanned Sudanese newspaper articles
3. A web link to a TV programme in which the issue was discussed
India, the world’s largest democracy, is renowned for good governance and a high degree of
transparency in running public affairs. The adherence to the principles of good governance
has enabled your country to be among the top economic giants of the world.
We are confident, you will give this matter you utmost attention and look forward to your
prompt response.
We seize this opportunity to express to your excellency the assurances of our highest
consideration.
Sincerely yours
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