Sudan to reform Gum Arabic trade
Aug 7, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The symposium on Gum Arabic has recommended the setting up of a council meant for mapping out policies that would streamline production and trade of Gum Arabic.
The symposium also called for promoting Gum Arabic research centres and starting a monetary fund that would ensure finance for its production.
The symposium was held in the National Assembly buildings. The ministers of national economy and industry participated in the meeting besides the chairman of the company.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gum Arabic Company Dr. Mansour Khalid reviewed in his paper the beginning and goals of the company, pointing out the achievements it scored in upgrading the scope of specialization in marketing this commodity.
The Gum Arabic Company, Ltd., holder of the monopoly position for the export of crude Gum Arabic from the Sudan offered a much-reduced price for the previous crop, because they possessed a very large buffer stock (about 30,000 MT) and faced the lowest prices in more than 10 years.
The Sudanese gum is produced in Kordofan region 49.3%, Kassala region 24.4%, Darfur region 23.4 % and White and Blue Nile region 2.9%.
Gum arabic is a resin that is used as an emulsifier in soft drinks, a thickener in candies and jellies, a binder in special-purpose inks and drugs, even a foam stabilizer in beer. Its name derives from the fact that the gum was shipped to Europe from Arabic ports.
(ST)