(AFP Photo / Ashraf Shazly)
By Nada Badawi
Sudan, known for its fertile land, will grant Egyptian businessmen two million acres of land north of the capital Khartoum, to launch an industrial complex to produce bio-fuel and drugs and cultivate strategic crops like wheat.
Egypt also plans to import 5,000 cows on a monthly basis to serve the poor in Upper Egypt.
“What we have noticed here with our Sudanese counterparts is the abundance of red meat in the area,” said Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Bassem Ouda in a joint press conference with several ministers.
Besides establishing projects in the agricultural and livestock sectors, the countries plan to invest in water infrastructure, construction of a land route, a shipping company, bio-fuel projects, and a railway line between Egypt and Sudan.
President Mohamed Morsi said that the collaboration is aimed at “doubling bilateral trade between Egypt and Sudan”.
“We can see that there’s a wave of pressure on the average citizen when it comes to purchasing certain commodities, especially those that are deemed basic Egyptian foods,” said Ouda.
Sudan is known to have imported much of its food from Egypt, such as fruit juices, yoghurt products, strawberry and oranges.
“We have agreed to look for opportunities to benefit from our resources, and start joint farming and livestock projects,” Morsi reported to the media.
Both governments aim to stimulate investments and trade especially through establishing the first direct road link and two cross-border roads between the two nations, which are expected to open soon.
During his visit, Morsi underlined the important role of Egyptian-Sudanese bilateral relations, calling for benefiting from the two countries’ human capacity to promote economic, trade and investment cooperation.
The presidency announced on Sunday that Morsi’s visit to Sudan achieved its objectives.
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