Sudan to expand economic, trade ties with Nigeria

ABUJA, July 12, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudan is working toward expanding its trade and economic cooperation with Nigeria, Sudan’s outgoing ambassador to Nigeria Abdelrahim Khalil said here Tuesday.

Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir (L) sees off his Nigerian counterpart Olusegun Obasanjo at Khartoum international airport. January 8, 2005. (AFP) .

During his four years of tenure in Nigeria, Khalil said, he had tried his best to promote cultural, political and economic ties between the two countries. According to him, Nigerian businessmen now began to visit Sudan to look for investment opportunities following the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the country.

“In this respect the Dantata Group has indicated interest to explore for oil and gas in the Red Sea area of Sudan,” he said.

Khalil said that Sudanese experts were already in Nigeria to rehabilitate the Savanna Sugar Project in Numan, Adamawa.

He said as Sudanese settle down following the signing of peace accord between the government and various groups, a more favorable investment climate would be created.

Khalil said political consultation was going on between the two countries at various levels.

On education, he said in promoting cultural and educational ties between the two countries, Sudan has increased the number of scholarships to Nigerian students in Sudanese universities, adding that Sudanese universities have admitted a number of private students from Nigeria.

Khalil is scheduled to leave Nigeria on July 15 after the expiration of his tenure.