Russia-Sudan set up business partnership

May 18, 2006 (MOSCOW) — Moscow and Khartoum are unanimous that private companies ought to play the most important role in maintaining peace in Sudan, Lam Akol, Sudan’s foreign minister, said here today.

He said that “during the talks with my Russian colleague Sergey Lavrov we agreed that the governments of both countries ought to create all conditions for organizing mutually-advantageous business partnership”.

“All opportunities for investments are now open in Sudan,” he said. At the same time he noted that “the only problem is that private companies need guarantees to underpin their economic activities in the country”.

The minister expressed the hope that “the government of Sudan will play a due part in this process”. He recalled that Russian companies were already operating in Sudan. Transgaz, in particular, is laying oil pipelines, the ITAR-TASS news agency reported.

“Recently a Russian-Sudanese business council was set up. It will start work on 27 May. The future directions of bilateral economic cooperation will be discussed during the first sitting,” said Lam Akol.

(ST)