An international Arab conference to rebuild the Sudanese industrial sector

Sudan Events-Cairo – Nahid Oshi

Secretary-General of the Arab Union for Industrial Export Development, Ambassador Abdel Moneim Mohamed Mahmoud, said that the initial estimates of the losses of the economic sector in Sudan amount to about $200 billion ,of which about $50 billion are losses to the industrial sector and the sector’s infrastructure, considering that the industrial sector in Sudan has suffered a severe crisis due to the systematic destruction of factories and industrial companies, which led to the destruction of 80% of the sector, including about 550 factories in Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman, and the displacement of about 250,000 workers and the destruction of banks and more than 100 branches in addition to many central and commercial markets.
He affirmed the need to prepare a comprehensive survey of Sudanese factories that were completely or partially destroyed as a result of the war, to be carried out in cooperation between the Ministry of Industry, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Arab Industrial Development Organization, and with the assistance of some Arab countries and countries interested in Sudanese affairs.
He demanded in a paper he presented at the workshop on rebuilding and rehabilitating the industrial sector in Sudan at the Intercontinental Hotel in Cairo, he called for establishing new industrial cities in the various states of Sudan and equipping them with the important infrastructure with the aim of establishing modern Sudanese industries and transferring some of the current industries to the regions by distributing industries to all parts of Sudan while targeting the locations of raw materials, so that the factories are equipped with modern technologies that use the fourth generation equipment of the industrial revolution to keep pace with global developments in this field. Ambassador Nour El Din affirmed the Union’s readiness to organize an international Arab conference to rehabilitate and build the industrial sector in Sudan after the end of the war and the restoration of security.
He said that the Union is currently organizing a workshop to prepare for evaluating the current situation and submitting the proposals required to be implemented to the Sudanese Ministry of Industry and the Sudanese government so that the required laws, regulations and policies are ready before the conference is held.
The Secretary-General of the Union affirmed the need to prevent the export of raw materials except after they are manufactured and added value is added to them, which raises export prices and brings great benefits to the Sudanese economy.
He said, “The government must obtain loans from entities related to reconstruction and combating poverty, such as Arab funds and financing banks, and prepare attractive investment policies to participate in reconstruction and establish new industries aimed at export.
Ambassador Nour El Din said that the Sudanese State must prepare national policies that motivate and encourage the private sector, rehabilitate it, link it with research centers and universities, and work on implementing pioneering projects, scientific experiments and innovations, and encourage youth to entrepreneurship with the aim of enhancing their capabilities and establishing industries and projects for young people that reduce unemployment and help develop the sector. He indicated that in this context, Sudanese banks, headed by the Central Bank, are required to develop financing programs Facilitating the affected industries and allowing commercial banks and the Industrial Development Bank to establish portfolios in local and foreign currencies to contribute to financing the industrial sector, rebuilding and rehabilitating it and establishing new industries. He said, “It is possible to make it possible for industrial projects to take direct loans from Islamic banking institutions such as the International Islamic Trade and Investment Corporation and the Islamic Corporation for the Private Sector, which are interested in supporting these sectors and developing trade for the purpose of export.
He pointed to the need to encourage entrepreneurship in industrial, agricultural and economic projects in general and to cooperate in this with the United Nations International Center for Entrepreneurship based in Bahrain and Arab and international bodies interested in this field.