PORT SUDAN, Sudan, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Sudanese entrepreneur said that Sudan hopes to establish a long-standing partnership with China in developing its Port Sudan harbor, as the country's economy is suffering from lack of major resources.
"We have important and strategic partnerships with the Chinese companies which have greatly helped us to modernize Port Sudan harbour and increase its efficiency," Jalal Eldin Shelia, General Manager of Sudan's state Sea Ports Corporation, told Xinhua.
He said that Chinese companies have contributed a lot such as deepening the cleats, increasing the number of docks, modernizing the delivery and shipment equipment and computerizing the procedures and customs clearances.
"For over a quarter of a century we, in the Sea Ports Corporation, have cooperation with the Chinese government. Presently we are working on establishment of free harbors on the Red Sea coast with Chinese support as well as a free zone north of Suakin town, an area upon which the Sudanese economy greatly depends," Shelia said.
"Thanks to the strategic partnership with the Chinese companies, we have managed to develop the work at the Sudanese ports where there is a wider openness on the Sudanese sea coast," he added.
The general manager, meanwhile, stressed the importance of the Sudanese sea Ports Corporation and its contribution to the Sudanese economy as Port Sudan harbour is the only gate for Sudan's exports and imports.
"The Sea Ports Corporation is a pillar of the national economy upon which the country relies to facilitate the trade movement between Sudan and some landlocked countries which depend on the Sudanese ports," he said.
According to statistics from Sudan's finance ministry, Port Sudan harbour contributes three percent of total revenues for the country's general budget.
Sudan is the sole maritime gate for a number of landlocked African countries including Ethiopia, Chad, Central Africa Republic and Congo, but Sudan has not yet made full use of the advantage.
Dr. Khider Mohamed Ahmed, a professor of economics at the Red Sea University, told Xinhua that Port Sudan harbor is far from its "maximum capacity which exceeds 11 million tons a year."
"The port has not yet managed to make Sudan the most important gate for the movement of goods and commodities for some landlocked African countries, and there are many reasons for that including the high fees set by the Sea Ports Corporation in exchange for the services it provides to the global shipping companies," he explained.
"There is also slowness in the shipment and delivery operations due to lack of modern cranes, despite the fact that this issue has presently lessened after the installation of modern rubber cranes thanks to the partnership with Chinese companies," said Ahmed.
As the main port for Sudan, Port Sudan harbor, some 890 km east of the capital Khartoum, was inaugurated as early as 1909.
