KHARTOUM – Sudan and Qatar on Monday will sign a partnership agreement worth 4.0 billion dollars to develop and manage Suakin Port in eastern Sudan on the Red Sea.

Sudan has been deprived of foreign investment in its Red Sea ports and terminals due to the economic sanctions on the country while many state and private funds for strategic and commercial reasons invested huge amounts of money in the profitable marine terminal management in different countries in the region.

The deal was announced by the Sudanese Minister of Transport, Roads and Bridges Makkawi Mohamed Awad in a joint press conference held in Port Sudan with the Qatari Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti.

“Qatar and Sudan have agreed on a new joint partnership for full rehabilitation and management of the port of Suakin as that the signing ceremony will be in Khartoum tomorrow,” Awad told reporters.

He further said that the project will be completed by 2020 and will cost four billion dollars, of which 500 million dollars will cover the first phase. Qatar will fund the project but Sudan will hold 51% of its shares while Qatar will get 49%.

He disclosed that the deal has been reached after four meetings held in Doha and Khartoum to discuss plans to modernize the seaport and to make it one of the strategic facilities in the country.

The project includes a free zone and besides the seaport infrastructure.

The minister didn’t say the term of the agreement but generally such concessions awarded for a period between 20 and 50 years. However, in some countries freehold deals are possible.

Awad said his ministry plans to develop the infrastructure of Sudanese seaports to keep pace with the development of maritime transport industry, adding they will work with international companies specialized in the seaports management.

In similar deals with foreign countries or private companies, the parties establish a separation of port authority from the port operator. The latter focuses on profitable commercial services while the former works on policy and regulations.

The visiting Qatari minister who arrived from Doha directly to Port Sudan met on Sunday evening with the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir in Khartoum.

After the meeting, Al-Sultaiti said he discussed the project with al-Bashir and confirmed the signing of the deal on Monday.

Last December, Sudan and Turkey agreed to develop joint tourism projects in Suakin which was an important port in the Red Sea during the Turkish rule. Also, Angara said it would restore the historical sites of the port.

(ST)