Sudan courts 70 Chinese, global firms to invest in mining sector

 September 22, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has reached preliminary understandings with around 70 Chinese and international companies interested in investing in its mining sector, the minerals ministry said on Tuesday, as the government seeks to bolster state revenues and curb gold smuggling.

Minerals Minister Noureddine Mohamed Ahmed Taha led a delegation to the 28th China Mining Conference and Exhibition in Tianjin earlier this month, where the discussions took place, the ministry said in a statement.

Taha briefed Prime Minister Kamil Idris in Khartoum on the outcomes of the meetings with prospective foreign investors, according to the statement.

The prime minister directed authorities to accelerate the regulation of artisanal mining and tighten controls over gold production, Taha told reporters.

Artisanal mining accounts for the bulk of Sudan’s gold output, but large volumes are routinely smuggled out of the country, depriving the cash-strapped state of vital foreign currency revenues.

Idris also ordered the provision of resources to establish the Sudan Centre for Mining and Geosciences to train local personnel and upgrade technical capacity, Taha said.

The discussions in Khartoum also reviewed progress on recent cabinet decisions aimed at broader economic reforms, the minister added.

Sudan relies heavily on mineral extraction to attract foreign capital and stimulate productive sectors hit by ongoing economic turmoil.