Sudan’s first Vice-President, Ali Osman Taha, has reaffirmed his country's commitment to women’s issue as Sudan celebrates its national Women’s Day. Speaking at the launch of a new microfinancing foundation for women, Taha announced the government’s belief in “supporting women, improving their living conditions and income, as well as enabling them to perform their role in society.” The Vice-President hopes the new intitiative will help rural women in particular. The country’s State, Welfare and Social Security Minister, Ibrahim Adam Ibrahim, used the day to celebrate government programmes which aim to enable women economically. “These programmes,” he said, “have already had positive results and produced transformations in Sudan’s social development.”