Official Name

Republic of the Sudan

Capital

Khartoum

Currency

Sudanese Pound (SP)

Population

July 2007 estimate 39,379,358

Main Languages

Arabic (Official), English and other local Languages.

Total GDP

Services contribute 41%, Agriculture 38.7% and Industry 20.3% to Sudan's GDP

Main Economic Sector

Several Factors have combined to improve Sudan's economy such as increase in Production of oil and sharply rising oil prices Mr. Elsadig Diab has assisted in maintaining the growth of Minister Plenipotentiary GDP close to 10% in the last financial year's

India-Sudan Economic and Commercial Relations

There are certain unique characteristics which Sudan enjoys because of its demographic composition and geographical location. It represents an Afro-Arab society and shares borders with nine countries. With an area of 2.5m Sq. Kms., Sudan is the largest country in Africa with 700 km long coastline on the Red Sea, it is virtually a traverse point for traveling across to the rest of the Africa continent. Shipping facilities at its ports cater not only to Sudan but also provide outlets for trade overland to a number of countries. Setting up of COMESA with 20 countries around Sudan and the organization's emphasis on eventually realizing custom free transportation of commodities through the borders of the member of countries is bound to further enhance Sudan's importance as a trade hub for the region.

In the past about three years, India Sudan bilateral trade has grown by 800%. While Indian exports to Sudan for the year 1998-99 were 234.10 crores, for the year 2006-07 exports rose to approximately 2100 crores. India is the 4 largest exporter of commodities to Sudan after Saudi Arabia, China and UAE. The economic relations have witnessed a historic turn after GOI's decision to invest US$ 750 million in the oil sector of Sudan with the ONGC Videsh Limited acquiring 25% of the shares of the Sudan's biggest oil consortium Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC)

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between government of Sudan and SPML/SPLA have already been signed .The Agreement between Government and East Front as well as main party in Darfur has also been signed resulting in formation of Government of National Unity.

The relations between India and Sudan got a new impetus with the visit of President A.P.J Abdul Kalam to Sudan in October 2003 during the visit, Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA), Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and an MOU on cooperation in the field of Information Technology were signed and GOI Line of credit of US$ 50 million to Sudan was announced.

Some Indian companies from public and private sectors are now actively striving to register their presence in Sudan such as , BHEL, TCIL,ITI Limited, RITES, Konkan Railways, IRCON International, Kirloskar Brothers, Kalpataru Power, Mohan Exports, Jaguar Industries, Agelique Industries and L&T .Entities like Essar, Reliance and Eicher are also making efforts to enter the Sudanese Market. Companies like Mahindra and Mahindra ,TATA and Maruti are already there.

Sudan needs to import a wide range of products, from traditional items of household use to hi-tech related products. Interest has been shown in Indian vehicles of all kinds and machinery and equipment for small / medium scale industries. Some pharmaceuticals companies in India are also exploring possibilities of installing manufacturing units in Sudan.

Though Sudanese economy is showing signs of recovery, country does not have sufficient ready liquidity to fiancé its infrastructure developing programmes. The GOI line of credit of US$ 50 million to Sudan would provide initial help to kick start our exports. The other impediment in smooth transaction of business is absence of inter banking arrangements between India and Sudan. Of late, functioning of banking system in Sudan has greatly improved with the improvement of its economy in general  and commencement of its crude exports in 1999.Recently , there have been no complaints about LC transaction or default on the part of Sudanese banks in honoring their commitments. Some Indian Banks including SBI are in touch with Sudanese Banks to arrive at some corresponding arrangements.

India-Sudan trade relations are poised to increase steadily. The volume of bilateral trade reached US$ 110 million in 2002.

Though Sudanese economy is showing signs of recovery, country does not have sufficient ready liquidity to finance its infrastructure developing programmes. The GOI line of credit of US$ 50 million to Sudan would provide initial help to kick-start our exports. The other impediment in smooth transaction of business is absence of inter-banking arrangements between India and Sudan. Of late, functioning of banking system in Sudan has greatly improved with the improvement of its economy in general and commencement of its crude exports in 1999. Recently, there have been no complaints about LC transactions or default on the part of Sudanese banks in honouring their commitments. Some Indian Banks including SBI are in touch with the Sudanese Banks to arrive at some corresponding arrangements.

Main Contact in New Delhi

Embassy of the Republic of Sudan
Plot. No 3, Shantipath, Chanakya Puri,
New Delhi 110021
Tel: - (011)26873185, 26873785

Indian Embassy

Embassy of India
P.O. Box No. 707, 61-Africa Road,
Khartoum-II, Sudan.
Telephone: 00-249-11-471205, 476170

Visa Procedure

Visa Regulations of the Republic of the Sudan

1. The applicants must submit two visa application forms duly filled and attach a passport size recent photograph on each of them.
2. The passport of the application should be valid for at least six months from the date of application.
3. Demand draft of Rs. 2977/-, in favour of Embassy of Sudan, New Delhi. If yoy wish the passport to be returned by mail after stamping the visa, kindly include sufficient courier charges.
4. The sponsor you intent to visit in the Sudan should obtain approval from the Ministry of Interior and then send it to the Ministry of External Affairs of the Sudan, who in turn will fax the same direct to the Embassy.
5. A confirmed return ticket to and from Sudan.
6. In case of a business visa, the applicant should submit a letter from the Chamber of Commerce of the state of the applicant.
7. The Embassy of the Sudan issues only single entry visas to applicants.

Entry visas are required by all nationalities, and are valid for one month.

Evidence of a previous visit to Israel or will result in a visa refusal.

Main Tourist Attraction

Travel in the Sudan poses a number of problems for the visitor, of which all intending to enter the country should be aware.
Quite apart from the difficulties involved with transport in a country so recently torn by war, and the internal problems posed by the presence of such large numbers of refugees with the resulting lack of food, there are extra hazards which the visitor may encounter.
This section will draw your attention to the problems and also, we hope, the attractions of visiting the largest country in Africa.

Places to visit

• Khartoum & Omdurman
• Dongola
• El-Obeid
• Karima
• Port Sudan
• Atbara
• Kassala
• Jebel Marra Mountains
• Suakin Island
• El-Fasher

Main Imports

Foodstuff, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles and wheat. Principal sources of imports are Saudi Arabia, China and United Kingdom.

Main Exports

Petroleum products, sesame, livestock, groundnuts, gum Arabic and sugar. Its main business partners are China, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates respectively. In 2004, Sudan had US $ 847, 2 million reserves of foreign exchange and gold.

Airport

Trinkitat Harbour, Sudan
PORT SUDAN
Green Harbour

Useful Websites

1. http://www.sudan.net
2. http://www.sudaninvest.org