The Governmental delegation headed by the River Nile State of Sudan H.E. Governor Lt Hadi Abdallah Mohammad Al Awad was accompanied by H.E. Abdel Salam Mohamad Al Kheir Abdallah, Minister of Investment, Industry, Tourism and Mining, H.E. Ahmad Al Siddiq Abdul Hai, Ambassador of Sudan to the UAE as well as economic advisors from the Embassy of Sudan who discussed possible investment opportunities in their State.
In his welcome address, HE Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair said that this particular visit by River Nile State of Sudan official delegation will help consolidate bilateral ties and open up new channels of cooperation between the two sides.
Al Ghurair informed the visiting delegation about the successful hosting of the annual 4th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Investment Forum hosted by the Chamber last month where one of the keynote speakers, Prof Elias Nyamlel Wakoson, the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Trade, has emphasized on enhancing trade ties with the emerging African and Sudanese markets, particularly in the agricultural sector. Sudan is one of the 19 members of COMESA.
Said Al Ghurair, “Our business relationship with Sudan is good but it needs to be further developed as the country ranked 38th on the list of Dubai’s top trading partners at the end of 2009 while the value of non-oil trade between Dubai and Sudan touched Dhs4.2bn. There are currently 511 Sudanese companies operating in Dubai and we have to take these numbers upwards.”
The Chairman of Dubai Chamber emphasized on the investment potentials available both in Dubai and Sudan and stressed on the importance of cooperation which he said will benefit both the sides. He called upon Sudanese businessmen to come to Dubai and set up businesses here as the Emirate is not only the economic capital of the UAE but a gateway to the region as well as an East meets West destination linking the African continent to the Indian sub-continent.
Al Ghurair also emphasized on the business-friendly environment in Dubai which he said is backed up by unlimited Government support, state-of-the-art infrastructural, logistical and financial services as well as modern trading and tourism sectors that stimulate economic growth in the Emirate.
He also said that under its strategic objectives of creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business and promoting Dubai as an international business hub, the Chamber is committed to providing all possible help to Sudanese businesses.
On his part Lt Hadi Abdallah Mohammad Al Awad, Governor of the River Nile State of Sudan, lauded the exemplary growth of Dubai as a global business center offering world-class trading facilities to a cross-section of multi-cultural businesses and expressed his hope of working closely with the Emirate for the economic prosperity of both the sides. He invited Dubai businesses to explore the investment opportunities available in his State.
