Sudanese Ambassador: I urge stronger economic cooperation between Sudan and Yemen

By: Mahmoud Assamiee SANA'A, Sep. 15 (Saba) - Sudanese Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed
Adam Ismail
urges stronger economic cooperation between Yemen and Sudan.
"Economic cooperation between the two countries is yet to reach satisfying levels."
He made it clear that this cooperation is still in its initial stages although
relations
between the two people involving movement of communities on both sides are historical.

Yemeni-Sudanese relations, especially the political are described as "excellent,"
according to the ambassador. "I am optimistic that this relationship will further
flourish
in the years ahead." He said that the two countries' leaderships share a similar
stand on issues associated with Yemen and Sudan and in many other world issues. He
further
said the people of the two countries have maintained close bilateral ties.
Reportage department conducted the following interview with the ambassador for more
about Yemeni-Sudanese cooperation in different fields and related issues.
Q: Yemeni-Sudanese cooperation in different fields is not new, let us talk first
about economic cooperation, what can you tell us about it? A: Despite US sanctions
being
in place since 1997, Sudan has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Sudan has so much to offer in terms of agriculture, livestock, and education. Yemen
has the opportunity to take a bigger slice of the cake and I urge it to do so.
Economic cooperation between the two countries is still in its first steps despite
the close relationship between the two countries.
Although many Sudanese have lived in Yemen and many Yemenis have lived in Sudan and
this resulted in years of intermarriage, this integration has not been translated
into
practical economic cooperation serving the interests of the two countries. Yemenis,
for example, excels in agriculture and construction and Sudanese can make use of
this
expertise.
A Yemeni farmer, who has succeeded to grow crops in the mountains, can be very
creative if he is given a chance to cultivate in a land like that of Sudan. This
field must
be activated. Besides, Yemenis have great trade experiences and there must be
integration between the two parts in this field, given the threat of food shortage.
Q: What can you tell us about trade exchange between the two countries, what are
Sudanese exports to Yemen and Yemeni exports to Sudan? What is it size? A: Sudan
exports
to Yemen are considerably small in volume. There is a problem in rising wages of
air-transport and could be one obstacles facing exports to each country. Yemen is in
need
of meat and Sudan is in need of fish and traders are ignoring such opportunities.
The price of one kilogram of fish in Sudan is equal to two kilos of meat and the
opposite
exists in Yemen, one kilograms of meat equals the price of two kilograms of fish.
Besides, Sudanese pharmaceuticals are absent in Yemeni markets. The Sudanese
pharmaceutical sector is growing exceptionally well and Yemen should also take
advantage of
that.
Q: Let's turn to cultural cooperation, how many scholarships each country provides
to another? A: Sudan provides 80 scholarships, for undergraduate and postgraduate
studies,
to Yemeni students to study in its universities, likewise, Yemen provides 60
scholarships to students of Sudanese community here and if the scholarships
outnumbers the
students living here, students from Sudan are granted the rest of scholarships to
come to Yemen. The opportunities are offered on a competitive basis.
Q: If we talk about Sudanese community in Yemen and Yemeni community in Sudan, what
will you tell us? A: There are Sudanese who have been living in Yemen for more than
20
years, we only discover them when they come to the embassy to renew their
residences. Some of them have integrated with Yemeni people and have taken Yemeni
wives. Most of
those who exist in Yemen are teachers, professors and experts working with foreign
missions such as the United Nations.
They are very welcomed between their Yemeni brothers and sisters.
The same situation applies to the Yemeni community in Sudan. The Yemeni community in
Sudan consists of mostly students.
It is difficult to assess the number of both communities.
Q: Sudan has welcomed Arab investments in its lands, especially in agricultural
field, what about Yemeni investments there and what about Sudanese investments in
Yemen?
A: Sudan granted Arab countries a chance to invest in agriculture, livestock and
fisheries in its soil. Unfortunately, Yemenis have not invested like their Arab
counterparts,
despite facilitations and privileges provided.
Sudan can fill the development gaps for Yemen in terms of food production for
example, given the abundance of water and fertile land which Yemen faces challenges
in. Yemeni
agricultural investments in Sudan have not begun despite Yemen being a great
importer of meats.
There are vast opportunities for Yemeni products to penetrate the Sudanese market.
For example, Yemeni grapes and other fruits are absent in Sudan and instead there
are
grapes being brought from Latin America and South Africa though the distance between
Yemen and Sudan is only two hours by plane. Yemen has a great opportunity to
cultivate
corns in Sudan rather than importing them from abroad.
Sudan is encouraging Yemenis to invest in Sudan to secure certain food imports.
Q: There is joint factor between the two countries that is unity between the south
and the north, from your viewpoint, how the two unities can be preserved? A: This
age
is the age of great entities. Maintaining the unities between the north and south in
both countries has greater advantages and is crucial to development. Concerning
unity
in Sudan, we gave our brothers in the south, after singing peace treaty, a choice to
conduct a referendum in 2011, whether to remain in united Sudan or secede. In case
of
separation, the relations between the two parts of Sudan will remain stronger than
that of the south with the neighboring countries.
Likewise for Yemen, a unified Yemen is better than two Yemens. If there are demands
for development for people in the south, in both countries, they must be realized
through
peaceful means and within the unity. Yemen's unity is better for regional peace and
stability.
We must consider lessons taken from the European Union which is diverse in many ways
than the Arab countries who have more in common than the Europeans do.
Sudan strongly supports the unity and integrity of Yemen.
Q: There are some Arab aspirations for Arab Unity. How do you view the realization
of such aspirations? A: Arab countries have much potential for unity. They have
the energy
resources, cultural similarities, vast arable lands and water. Their geopolitical
location also is of importance. Therefore, Arab countries should ease the
restrictions of
movement of people and capital to allow greater economic investment to serve the
interests of the Arab people. Once the Arab people feel free to move into any Arab
country,
unity will be the result. We have positive examples of arrangements such as the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League (AL). However, we have to implement
all
the agreements to allow easy and free cooperation. Unity does not serve the
interests of enemies who follow the policy of divide and then rule. Enemies do not
like such unity.
Whenever they feel there is close relations between us, they seek for creating
problems because when we are separated this threatens their interests. Arab leaders
and people
have to give attention to Arab Unity. Unfortunately, there are some who give more
priority to interests of foreigners than of Arabs.
Q: We have noticed great development in Sudanese industry during recent years,
especially in the military field, the latest being the launch of Sudanese-made
jets. How has
Sudan achieved this? A: The US embargo imposed on Sudan since 1997 has encouraged
the Sudanese to depend on themselves. Militarily Sudan has managed to manufacture
most of
its defense needs. Civil industries have also realized major breakthroughs in Sudan.
For example, Sudan now also manufactures vehicles The Giad factories are producing
cars
and trucks via French and Korean expertise, in addition to aluminum and iron.
Sudan also has become famous for its pharmaceutical industry. Sudan will
inaugurate the biggest factory for intravenous solutions. Many other industries
such as sugar have
also flourished.
Q: What about other developments? A: In agricultural development, Sudan has also
made progress in increasing production of oil seeds like sunflower which is used as
chicken
feed and for producing cooking oil. There is also improvement in the field of
scientific research. A Sudanese female researcher has invented seeds for sugarcanes.
This is
considered a breakthrough in agriculture field given the fact that sugarcane grows
by seedlings. There is also improvement in the field of energy, in the near future
1250
megawatts of energy will be added to current energy output. This is due to the
Merowe Multi-Purpose Hydro Project, which is the largest contemporary hydropower
project in
Africa.
Q: Sudan is nearing of referendum concerning unity between the South and the North,
how do you expect the future of Sudan after the referendum? A: The referendum is
part
of the Peace Treaty signed between the North and the South in 2005. We prefer that
Sudan remains as one entity integrated and strong with its many capabilities. If
referendum
resulted in secession- God forbids- the relations between the two parts will remain
strong and intimate like those between Singapore and Malaysia. Both countries were
formerly
united as one state and then separated. They now maintain strong bilateral relations
and joint interest exchanges.
Q: What about Sana'a Forum? Where is its role in solving problems its member states
face? A: The Forum is still in its infancy. The future of the forum depends on
serving
the economic aspirations of the citizens of member states if the treaties signed
between its member states are activated that will enhance peace and security and
economic
development in the region. The secretariat of the forum must be more active. We hope
to see joint strategic projects, industrial zones, free trade zones and cooperation
in
the maritime sector. There are a number of treaties between member states in fields
of taxes, banks and telecommunications which need to be activated.
Q: Last what do you want to add? A: I hope that our bilateral relations will
witness a more prosperous future. Sudan supports Yemen's development and welcomes
more cooperation
for mutual benefits.