Interview Treasurer: Sea Freight Companies Mafia

By Rehab Abdullah – Sudan Events

Treasurer of the National Chamber of Importers, Hashim Al-Fadil, warned against further deterioration of the economic condition in Sudan, revealing fleeing of a large number of businesses from Sudan and the declaration of bankruptcy by importers. He called for the development of flexible policies to facilitate imports while putting in place the necessary controls. Following are excerpts from that interview:-

There is talk about implementing a new increase in customs duties that has not been announced? 
There is no increase in customs, but basically the customs are high, equivalent to 40% of the value of the commodity, that is the customs duty is equivalent to 40% of the value of the commodity for most commodities, in addition to the net duty between 10-20%, plus the added value compounded by the value and duties at 17%. The customs duty imposes on a bag of flour 2 thousand pounds, although it must have been exempted.
Is this the reason for the increase in the prices of imported goods?
The main reason for the rise in commodity prices is the rise in the price of the dollar, and most food items now lose 20% of the cost, meaning the cost price is higher than the selling price, and purchasing power has become almost non-existent because 99% of citizens have lost their jobs and professions.
There are complaints about delayed clearance procedures?
Yes, the procedures are proceeding slowly, and any delay makes the importer pay double the price to the shipping agents, as the daily price reaches 100 euros for some companies, and this is in itself a mafia and is not talked about, besides the rents for warehouses prices in the regions are high.
How is the investment situation now?
Investment in Sudan lives between the pincers of high expenses and weak purchasing power, in addition to the specter of roving war, and this has caused a major departure in investors who will opt to do business outside the country.
What policies are required?
What is required is to facilitate import procedures, and to take into account that the citizen needs to rebuilt his infrastructure due to the theft of all his furniture by the Rapid Support Militia (RSF) and its followers.
The Ministry of Trade complained about dumping the market with commodities, is it trying to set controls?
I do not see there any dumping, and perhaps it will be a “mercy” for the citizen who no longer finds a job, and there may be a scarcity of commodities during the coming period, because many merchants and importers have left the market, particularly with regard to foodstuffs, it inflicts losses on importers and leads to the return of monopolization.
There are complaints about the high flooring fees?
In fact, sea freight forwarding companies are a mafia that sucks the blood of the Sudanese people and the price of the floors reaches 100 euros a day. I personally have four containers, the floors reached 59 days, and a payment of 23 million pounds is required, and the price of the container is 1,800 dollars from the factory.
Are there any group of people who have declared bankruptcy?
A large number declared bankruptcy. The whole country is losing, however our government ‘s concern is to collect levies.
Is the transaction done through a single window?
We hear about the single window, but each administration is considered a separate country. You are under the mercy of an employee’s mood