UNIDO Director-General wraps up visit to Sudan; underlines the importance of investment

KHARTOUM, 30  April 2012 — The Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Kandeh K. Yumkella, concluded his visit to Sudan today. Yumkella confirmed UNIDO’s willingness to help Sudan make development projects attractive to investors and finance institutions.

Over the last three days, he held meetings with high-ranking government ministers, including the federal President, six federal and state ministers, chairmen and CEOs of private companies, members of the soybean group and the executive leadership of the Sudanese Chamber of Industries Association. 

During his official visit, Yumkella met the ministers of industry, international cooperation, oil, and science and technology. He also met with the UN Country Team, and the Director-General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

The talks with government ministers focused on the need to strengthen industrial, agro-industrial and other related businesses, with the aim of generating jobs and filling the vacuum left by the loss of 75 per cent of national revenue as a consequence of the separation of the Republic of South Sudan. 

UNIDO’s assistance was requested in the realization of a number of new projects concerning, amongst others, leather products, food processing, the prevention and elimination of aflatoxins from the food supply, and the establishment of renewable energy sources. All government and non-government bodies expressed their high appreciation of the past and continuing partnership with UNIDO in Sudan.
 
In response to the requests brought to his attention, the Director-General stressed that the solution is to attract investment. He confirmed UNIDO’s willingness to carry out feasibility studies and related-packaging of the proposed projects to make them attractive to investors, as well as to promote the opportunities to investors and finance institutions.  

During a meeting at the Higher Council on Investment, Yumkella was briefed on the fruitful cooperation programme jointly implemented with UNIDO and the Islamic Development Bank. This cooperation has lead to a number of achievements, namely the editing and enhancing of the Investment Law;  analysis of the marble, stone and leather sectors; the capacity-building programmes for 30 members of staff from seven ministries on project preparation and appraisal, and finally the establishment of the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Centre (EDIP Centre).

A meeting was also held with Abdulaziz Al Khalaf, CEO of the Arab Bank for Economic Development of Africa (BADEA), which has its headquarters in Khartoum. Yumkella expressed his appreciation to BADEA for its continuing support for UNIDO and the Arab Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investment Training, particularly the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Programme in nine African countries. Yumkella expressed UNIDO’s firm commitment to cooperate with BADEA to develop more programmes to enhance and promote industry and investments in Africa.

For more information, please contact:

Kassahun A. Tesemma
UNIDO Representative to Sudan, Djibouti & Yemen