Sudan Seeks Brasilia’s Cooperation to Fund its Sugar Factories

A delegation of Sudanese companies went along with the representatives of Khartoum government to Brasilia and has signed a number of deals valued at nearly $500 million.

Sudan facing  stiff sanctions of US for its support to terrorism and human rights violations is currently trying to improve its trade relations with India, China, Middle East and Brazil while making attempts to expand its market beyond its main export of oil.

Mohamed El Mardi, Kenana Sugar Company’s Managing Director said that a number of Sudanese companies that went along with the government representatives to Brasilia have signed a good number of preliminary accords and most of them are for receiving loans through Brazilian funding. Without elaborating the details he further said that his company has signed two agreements with Dedini a Brazilian company to purchase machinery to increase the size of its existing ethanol plant in Sudan and to build a new bio-diesel operation in Sudan. He said that a good number of similarities exist between Sudan and Brazil especially in the Sugar related sector and also mentioned about the soft finance options provided by Brazil. Mardi further said that Giad another Sudanese company has also signed a number of deals during the visit.

Sugar is a key product in Sudan and people in the country are averse to any increase in prices. The country imports around 1.2 million tons of sugar to cover its domestic deficit. Sudan is making efforts to become a sugar exporting country by the year 2014.