U.S. assistance to the Republic of the Sudan began in April 1958 when an economic aid office was established in Khartoum, following a bilateral agreement for economic, technical and related assistance. In the six-year period ending with fiscal year 1963 (June 30, 1963), the United States has committed $75.6 million in assistance. The two governments are cooperating in a program to assist in achieving the objectives of Sudan's ten-year Development Plan. Projects are concentrated in portions of four sectors of the economy with an additional underlying emphasis on technical and professional training: 1) educational assistance is channeled toward the goal of expanding and strengthening academic, teacher training and technical education through the secondary level; 2) agricultural extension and research programs are focused on diversification to reduce the dependence of the economy on cotton; 3) infrastructure assistance is concentrated on highway demonstration and training although AID does finance some feasibility studies and provides development loans for selected transportation and public utility projects; 4) industrial development in the private sector is promoted through assistance in establishing an Industrial Bank, selected feasibility studies to encourage formation of small and medium industries and loans to private enterprise.