By NNN-WAM
Abu Dhabi : Visiting Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has attended the signing of an agreement setting up the UAE- Sudanese Business Council.
Salah Ameer Al Shamsi, chairman of the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, signed on behalf of the UAE, while Saud Mamoun Berair, chairman of the Sudanese Business Union, signed on the Sudanese side. Also present at the event here Sunday were the UAE and Sudanese businesspersons, as well as officials from both countries.
Al Bashir commended the comprehensive development being witnessed by the UAE in all fields.
He emphasised that Sudan was keen to benefit from the UAE’s experience in management, development and investment at a time the UAE is wooing international investments, urging the UAE businesspersons and investors to seize untapped various investment opportunities in Sudan.
On his part, Al Shamsi stressed the importance of joint meeting between the two countries to boost bilateral relations in all fields under leadership of both countries, indicating that “Sudan is a significant trade partner with mutual trade volume standing at AED2 billion in early 2007. The imports were about AED403 million, while the Sudanese exports put at AED322 million”.
He added that the size of UAE investments in Sudan is worth AED7 billion, noting that it is expected to reach AED10 billion during this year.
Al Shamsi reiterated that the federation was set to develop bilateral relations with the Sudanese business sector, citing the meeting held Sunday as an example to strengthen the relations.
Al Berair said that the meeting represented the springboard for the business relations between the two countries, adding that Sudan has huge investment potential in different sectors and the UAE businesspersons could exploit these opportunities.
Sudanese Finance and Economy Minister Awad al-Jaz, Sudanese Industry Minister Jalal Yousif Al Degair, Sudanese Ambassador to UAE Ahmed Ja’afer Ahmed Abdul Kareem, stressed the bilateral relations between the two countries, lauding wisdom of the UAE leadership, which reflected on prosperity of the country, and urging the UAE businesspersons to invest in Sudan.