Sudanese in Cairo Suggest Broad Egyptian Participation in the Reconstruction of Their Country

Sudan Events – Agencies 

Sudanese residents in Cairo have proposed prioritizing Egyptian companies to contribute extensively to the “reconstruction” efforts after the current war in Sudan ends.

The Sudanese-Egyptian Integration Center (a Sudanese institution based in Cairo) has developed a plan outlining the priority sectors that require reconstruction in Sudan, which was announced during an event held in Cairo on Saturday evening. It mentioned that “Egyptian companies have already started some work, including the rehabilitation of certain bridges in Khartoum.”

Since April 2023, Sudan has been experiencing an internal war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has led to the death of thousands of civilians and caused the displacement of millions of Sudanese both internally and abroad, including about 1.2 million to Egypt, according to official statistics.

The center estimated the losses across various sectors due to the war at about $127 billion. This includes “around $90 billion in losses from productive sectors such as agriculture, industry, oil, and electricity; $3 billion in losses from the civil aviation sector; $10 billion in the health and water sectors; $15 billion in the tourism sector; and $10 billion in private losses for citizens.”

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in April last year, Sudan’s economic losses amounted to 25% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within one year of the war.

The Sudanese government is keen to invite as many Egyptian companies as possible to contribute to the reconstruction and investment efforts, according to Asim Ahmed Hassan, the cultural advisor at the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo. During his participation in announcing the center’s “vision for the reconstruction of Sudan and the role of Egyptian companies,” he noted that there will be “facilitations provided by Sudan to Egyptian companies and investors.”

Hassan said: “There are good investment opportunities in agriculture in Sudan, especially with the upcoming agricultural season,” and called for the establishment of a “free market” between Sudan and Cairo to increase exports, particularly agricultural products.

Egypt and Sudan agreed to form a “joint team to study the reconstruction plan and international experiences to achieve it” during political consultations between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atti and Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Al-Sharif in Cairo at the end of February. Cairo confirmed its “readiness to contribute to efforts to restore Sudanese state sectors,” according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Egypt has already started reconstruction efforts in Sudan, according to Adel Abdel Aziz, director of the Sudanese-Egyptian Integration Center, who pointed out to Asharq Al-Awsat that “Egyptian companies have begun the maintenance and rehabilitation of two important bridges in Khartoum, namely Shambat and Al-Halfaya,” especially with the recent advances made by the Sudanese army, which regained vital areas.

Recently, the Sudanese army has retaken several major cities previously controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, particularly in the capital Khartoum and the Al-Jazeera state.

The “plan” suggests starting reconstruction efforts by “expanding agricultural investments in Sudan to reactivate the agricultural sector, which would guarantee millions of jobs for Sudanese citizens.” It calls for “prioritizing Egyptian contributions in this sector, as Cairo has good sources of fertilizers and advanced agricultural technologies.” It also points out that “Egypt’s participation in agricultural investments would enable it to secure its strategic crop needs, such as wheat, which it imports in large quantities annually.”

Egypt is the world’s largest importer of wheat, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Supply, importing more than 10 million tons annually to meet domestic needs, which amount to about 20 million tons per year.

The Sudanese-Egyptian Integration Center has identified six priority sectors for reconstruction: “Infrastructure, transport, roads, ports, communications, healthcare, education, electricity, and drinking water.” It highlighted the need to invest in major projects being carried out between the two countries, particularly the “electricity linkage and the railway connection project.”

Egypt and Sudan are working on an electricity linkage project with a capacity of “300 megawatts.” Recently, they announced a railway connection project between the two countries’ train networks, from Abu Simbel (South Egypt) to the Abu Hamad area, passing through Wadi Halfa (North Sudan). In January, Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir and his Sudanese counterpart Abu Bakr Abu Al-Qasim signed the minutes of the first meeting of the joint committee responsible for studying the project.

The Sudanese-Egyptian Integration Center’s plan aims to encourage Egyptian companies and institutions to contribute to Sudan’s reconstruction process, according to the center’s director, Adel Abdel Aziz. He stated that the center provides informational support and feasibility studies on projects that can be implemented in the reconstruction plan.

Sudan is counting on the second edition of the “Egyptian-Sudanese Businessmen Forum” to be held in Port Sudan to promote reconstruction efforts, according to Abdel Aziz. He mentioned that “arrangements are in place to hold the forum in April,” noting that “communications are ongoing with the companies that participated in the first edition in Cairo to present the priorities of the reconstruction process.”

Cairo hosted the “First Egyptian-Sudanese Businessmen Forum” last November, with the participation of officials and representatives of the business community from both countries. The forum discussed “opportunities for Egyptian companies to participate in reconstruction, expand economic cooperation, and support food security for both countries.”