Sudanese official hopes to boost it ties with S. Korea
June 27, 2006 (SEOUL) — Sudan wants to strengthen ties with South Korea in the communications sector and hopes to introduce its world-class mobile handsets, Sudan’s vice finance minister said Tuesday.
“We came to Seoul with an objective to introduce South Korea’s code division multiple access communications (CDMA) equipment and other mobile phones,” Ahmed Almagzoob, told S. Korean Yonhap News Agency in an interview.
CDMA is a third-generation mobile telecom platform, promising seamless video and audio communications service.
Leading a Sudanese delegation consisting of information technology experts and government officials, he arrived here June 20 for a six-day visit until Sunday.
Almagzoob, who also serves as chairman of Sudatel, Sudan’s state-run communications firm, visited handset plants of South Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics Co. (KSE:005930), LG Electronics Inc. (KSE:066570) and Pantech & Curitel Communications Inc., three major South Korean mobile makers.
“We were deeply impressed by various communications equipment that they are producing and their outstanding ways of management,” he said. “We hope to strengthen ties with such world-class South Korean communications companies.”
No deals been confirmed, but sources said Pantech & Curitel, South Korea’s second-largest mobile phone maker, expressed an intention to strengthen ties with Sudatel such as by building mobile plants there and boosting technological exchanges.
Sudan, which has been stricken by poverty and high inflation, is currently enjoying an economic recovery thanks to brisk sales of crude oil. Last year, the African country’s economy grew 8.5 per cent, according to its official data.
The Sudanese government is stepping up investment in social overhead capital such as communications infrastructure, officials from Sudan said.
(ST)