General News of Monday, 26 January 2015
Source: Graphic Online
The Republic of Sudan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Babikir Elsiddig Mohammed, has announced a plan of action to promote meaningful bilateral trade and business relations with Ghana.
The Ambassador, who announced this at the commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the Republic of Sudan ‘s independence in Accra last weekend, gave the assurance that the plan of action would help accelerate the pace of development in both countries.
Following the reopening of the Sudanese embassy in Ghana in 2010, Ambassador Mohammed said an agreement for general cooperation between the two countries was reached as part of the action plan.
He explained that the agreement covered a wide range of areas: in the fields of agriculture, oil and gas, mining, as well as youth and sports, higher education and custom duties.
Mr Mohammed said prior to Sudan’s independence 59 years ago on January 1, 1956, the country was “totally reliant on the import of almost everything it needed” and expressed the hope that the plan of action would deepen South-South co-operation.
“In 1956, when we got our independence, the per capita GDP of Sudan was less than 500 US dollars. Today it is around 2,600 US dollars,” he noted.
He said besides the accelerated growth of the economy they also produced almost all their basic needs, including manufactured goods and vehicles.
He said many of such products were exported to generate foreign exchange to enhance socio-economic development.
“Sudan’s actual contribution in regional and continental food security is undeniable, and can hardly be matched, given the country’s vast arable land, abundant water and livestock resources and multiple climate and environments,” he noted.
On the development of the country’s human resources, the Ambassador said much had been achieved since independence, explaining that prior to independence, the country had only one University college that offered admission to a few students.
He said currently, Sudan boasts almost 100 public and private university colleges that offer admission to half-a-million students, many of whom were females.
“Indeed, our human capital remains the most precious wealth and our well-trained professionals like doctors, engineers, teachers, university professors, administrators as well as skilled labour have been instrumental in the development not only of our country, but also that of many other sisterly and friendly countries in the Middle East and beyond,” he noted.
He said with bilateral trade and business relations between Ghana and the Republic of Sudan, there would be mutual gains to enhance accelerated socio-economic development.