Sudan, Korea to cooperate in on energy and resource development
May 26, 2008 (SEOUL) – Sudan and South Korea presidents agreed in a meeting held Monday in Seoul to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, resources development and infrastructure construction.
The visiting Omer al-Bashir is in Seoul to meet with his Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak and attend an international conference held here to commemorate the inauguration of the Korea-Arab Society.
The two presidents agreed that Sudan government would support Korean firms wanting to participate in energy and resource development as well as infrastructure construction projects in Sudan; including the modernization of Red Sea-area oil refinery plants.
Also, South Korea which is the seventh-largest trading partner for Sudan, committee its self to widen economic cooperation an exchange with Sudan. Seoul also promised to transfer Korea’s know-how in economic development and increase grants to Sudan.”
Sudan is the largest country in Africa and the 10th-largest country in the world by area. It is bordered by Egypt to the north and the Red Sea to the northeast. South Korea and Sudan established diplomatic ties in April 1977.
Korea also agreed to take part in Sudan’s farmland development project as part of efforts to secure Korea’s offshore grain resources.
At the request of the Sudanese president, President Lee agreed to send a group of South Korean delegates to assist with Sudan’s farmland development project. He instructed his Cabinet in mid-April to map out specific measures to build grain storage facilities abroad as part of his government’s drive to heighten grain and natural resource security.
South Korea intensified security Monday at an international conference attended by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, whose country remains mired in a drawn-out civil war, a South Korean security official said.
Further, a major South Korean business organization said Monday that it has signed an agreement with its Sudanese counterpart to expand cooperation between the two countries’ companies.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Sudanese Businessmen & Employers Federation signed the deal, with KCCI Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in attendance.
(ST)