Sudan seeks Turkish investors: Ambassador

The relationship between Sudan and Turkey goes back more than four and a half centuries. Sevakin was the capital of the Ottoman Empire at that time. Today, the country ranks first in terms of bilateral agreements with Turkey, at more than 50. However, the trade volume between the two countries is less than $500 million. Yusuf al-Kordofani, the Sudanese Ambassador to Ankara, spoke to daily DUNYA about Turkish businessmen’s interests and investment opportunities in Sudan. Al-Kordofani said that Sudan is hoping for Turkish investors in mining, housing and agriculture as well as the 8 new ports to be built in the country. Mining has great potential, particularly in oil, natural gas and gold, he added.

“There are about 4,000 Turks in Sudan, most of them businessmen,” al-Kordofani said. “There is no reason this number could not increase to four million, not only for business, but for students. We want to have experienced and entrepreneurial Turks in Sudan. As the number increases, the volume of trade will also increase.”

Sudan has fertile agricultural land amounting to 200 million decares, according to al-Kordofani, but does not utilize 75 percent of it. The country, which also has rivers and underground springs, receives high amounts of rainfall and holds rainwater in dams. So everything for agriculture and animal husbandry is available. Companies from Qatar, Malaysia, China, Germany, France, England, Russia, Italy, and Netherlands are producing in Sudan. There are also 3-4 Turkish companies. “We want this number to increase,” al-Kordofani said. “These countries are doing business not only in livestock but in all areas of agriculture. At the moment we have 150 million heads of livestock. We have serious potential in cattle, sheep and camel production. I know that Turkey will make a very big project. It will be an integrated facility to be announced soon. Companies will visit Sudan soon with the Minister of Agriculture. This visit will increase investments. In addition, land was given to the Directorate General of Agricultural Enterprises (TIGEM.) This will set an example and increase the experience for Turks in Sudan.”

Mega projects n the works

Sudan’s ports also play an important role in regional trade. For this reason, the capacity of ports needs to be increased. The ambassador said that there are Turkish companies who want to build 8 new ports and that the chances of launching the projects are high. Sudan also would like to see projects that include villas, apartments and shopping malls. “About two weeks ago an agreement between Turkey and Sudan was signed in which a Turkish company will build a new airport and develop its landscape plan. This area, which will include streets, hotels and residences, will be completed within 30 months,” he said.

Turk sh banks to open branches

Talks are also on-going with Turkish banks to open branches in Sudan. We are at the permission stage,” al-Kordofani said. “Cooperation in the commercial sense has already begun. EXIMBANK will also help. Currently there are 13-14 foreign banks in Sudan. There are Islamic banks from countries like Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. We don’t have any problems with the world banking system.”

There are also health care agreements between the two countries, he added. “At the initial stage in 2018 we will raise the number of patients going from Sudan to Turkey to 150 annually. The target is 500,” he said. “We have many raw materials ranging from mines to agriculture,” al-Kordofani said. “Many productive fields are not economically viable because of the lack of enterprise. As for the establishment of a company, if a commercial company produces and exports in agriculture and industry, it can establish a company in Sudan with a 100 percent ownership. There is no need to find any partners. Companies operating in oil exploration and mining will need local partnerships.”