Sudan courts international investors to modernise Red Sea trade corridor

September 27, 2026 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan is seeking foreign investment to modernise its Red Sea terminals and establish a regional logistics hub to bolster state revenues amid ongoing war, senior officials told a maritime conference on Sunday.

The push to upgrade port infrastructure comes as the army-backed government relies heavily on its coastal economic conduit to handle critical supply lines, trade, and cross-border transit for landlocked regional neighbours.

Speaking at the opening of an international maritime forum in Port Sudan, Transitional Sovereign Council member Ibrahim Jaber urged delegates to formulate a strategic roadmap to overhaul existing terminals, establish new trade zones, and draw international capital.

Sudan’s infrastructure and transport minister, Saif Al-Nasr Al-Tijani Haroun, outlined a four-pillar recovery strategy focusing on modernising berth infrastructure, adopting green port standards, accelerating digital automation, and expanding public-private partnerships.

Haroun said Sudan’s 800-km (500-mile) coastline alongside major global maritime shipping channels gives Port Sudan a competitive edge as an export-import gateway for regional landlocked economies, including Chad, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

Sea Ports Corporation Director-General Gailani Mohamed Gailani said the maritime authority is offering regulatory incentives to domestic and foreign investors to build new facilities, expand container handling, and develop surrounding free-trade zones.

Civil conflict across central and western Sudan has crippled commercial activity since April 2023, leaving Port Sudan as the country’s primary commercial hub and de facto administrative base.