SPECIAL REPORT

THE REPUBLIC OF

SUDAN
AGRICULTURE • MINERALS • FINANCE • MANUFACTURING

A DYNAMIC PRIVATE SECTOR

OPEN TO THE WORLD

PUBLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH THE US-SUDAN BUSINESS COUNCIL

 PA R T N E R S I N P R O G R E S S

ALWAYS STRIVING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Winners of the Capital Finance International Award, UK

for Best Project Finance Team in Sudan in 2015

Winners of 2017 Best Bank in Sudan in terms of Large Corporate Financing award,
presented by the World Union of Arab Bankers in cooperation with the Union of Arab Banks, Beirut, Lebanon.

Sudan-Khar toum • Mamoun Beheir y Street • South The Green Square • Plot 411 • Square 65

P.O. Box: 8210 Al Amarat • Tel: +249 183 247700 • Fax: +249 183 235000 • almal@[Link]

[Link]
 SPECIAL REPORT

THE REPUBLIC OF

SUDAN
AGRICULTURE • MINERALS • FINANCE • MANUFACTURING

A DYNAMIC PRIVATE SECTOR

OPEN TO THE WORLD
PUBLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH THE US-SUDAN BUSINESS COUNCIL

Published by FIRST, 99-101 Victory House, London W1B 4EZ

Tel: +44 20 7440 3500 Fax: +44 20 7440 3544 Email: publisher@[Link] Web: [Link]
Chairman and Founder Rupert Goodman dl
Hon Chairman, Advisory Council Rt Hon Lord Hurd of Westwell ch cbe pc
President, International Affairs Lord Cormack dl fsa, Report Editor Johanna Zuleta, Regional Publisher Declan Hartnett
VP, Strategic Partnerships Emmanuel Artusa-Barrell, Non-Executive Director Hon Alexander Hambro
Head of Information and Research Chris Cammack, Design and Production Jon Mark Deane
Editorial Consultant Jonathan Gregson, Executive Assistant Freya Young-Jamieson, Senior Staff Writer Nicholas Lyne
Special Advisor, China, Lord Powell of Bayswater kcmg, Special Advisor, Russia Sir Andrew Wood gcmg
Special Advisor, Latin America Jacques Arnold dl, Special Advisor, Global Issues Professor Victor Bulmer-Thomas cmg obe

FIRST is composed of the opinions and ideas of leading business and political figures. All information in this
publication is verified to the best of the authors’ and publishers’ ability, but no responsibility can be accepted
for loss arising from decisions based on this material. Where opinion is expressed, it is that of the authors.

© FIRST 2018
FIRST gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the British Embassy in Sudan, David Lelliot obe, Rowan Elmustafa,
Mohamed Isam Elhaj, Thanos, George and Flora Pagoulatos from the Acropole Hotel in Khartoum, and friends in Sudan

FIRST
HELPING TO CREATE A
BETTER FUTURE FOR AFRICA

Haggar Group.
Unit No 3103,
Haggar, established in South Sudan in 1904, has over 100 years of experience Saba Tower 1 Plot No. E3,
investing in Africa. Today the group has investments in 8 sectors across 6 countries JLT P.O. Box 212956
in Africa. The group focuses on opportunities in Agriculture, ICT & Energy, which Dubai, UAE
it believes provide the best catalyst for sustainable growth across the largest T: +971 4-435 5750
stakeholder base on the continent. F: +971 4-435 5837

[Link] | [Link]/company/haggargroup
SUDAN

I
t gives me great pleasure to introduce reforms and offers interesting investment and
this Special Report on Sudan. We are trade opportunities for the discerning investor.
especially grateful to the participating Agricultural production remains the
members of Sudan’s private sector for principal source of income and employment
all their help and guidance in the preparation in Sudan and constitutes one third of the
of this report. We are also very grateful to the economy. The main agricultural products
Ambassador H.E. Irfan Siddiq and his staff include cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, millet,
at the British Embassy in Khartoum for their wheat, Gum Arabic, hibiscus, fruit, sesame
support and assistance. Our Report Editor, seeds and animal feed.
Johanna Zuleta, should also be congratulated Sudan is ranked as the third largest gold
on bringing this publication to fruition. producer in Africa. Artisanal gold mining
Sudan is a country with a rich history, operations contribute around 85 per cent
geography and culture. Located in North of production with the balance from
East Africa, it occupies a land area of 718,772 large and small-scale mining and tailings
square miles, making it the third largest processing operations.
country in Africa by land mass. Sudan’s history There are also significant investment
stretches back to the Pharaonic period. opportunities in livestock production –
Sudan occupies a geostrategic position at accounting for 26 per cent of the total export
Foreword by the intersection of the Middle East, Sub- value. Sudan has the capacity to further
Rupert Goodman dl Saharan, North and East Africa. The country
lies between latitudes 8 and 23° north. The
develop beef production given its extensive
water resources and fertile soils.
Chairman and Founder landscape is predominately flat plains with Sudan’s private business sector is the key

FIRST a number of significant mountain ranges

– including Deriba Caldera in the Marrah
driver in economic development and we
are grateful to the senior business leaders
Mountains. With an altitude of around from Sudan who have shared their insights,
10,000ft, it is the highest point in Sudan. experience and ideas in this special publication.
The Blue and White Nile rivers flow We at FIRST are delighted to have
within the country to meet in Khartoum produced this special publication to promote
becoming the River Nile which then traverses Sudan’s private sector and hope that it
northwards to the Mediterranean Sea. The contributes to Sudan’s continuing economic
country is also blessed with important mineral development and the promotion of important
resources, including chromite, cobalt, copper, international relationships, especially in the
gold, lead, mica, nickel, silver, tin, uranium, area of trade and investment.
zinc and both oil and gas. This report is the first in a series designed
Sudan’s economy has benefitted from the to provide new perspectives on this
removal of sanctions and ongoing economic fascinating and distinctive country. F

FIRST
 Araak Group spans over 8 strategic sectors and employs over 3,000 people

Bottling Engineering Milling Construction Banking & Recycling Retail Food Retail Food
& Real Estate Insurance Distribution
Development

BOTTLING MILLING CONSTRUCTION

From its birth in the 1980’s our bottling division Wheata is one of the largest flour mills in the region. Araak Development and Construction is developing
has grown to become the largest manufacturer With a current capacity of 1750 tonnes per day, it is an 200,000 square meters of prime residential land
of soft drinks in Sudan and a pioneer in the field, important national pillar in ensuring food security and into the largest residential compound in Khartoum
growing from producing a single product to a plays a vital public health role through fortifying flour with over 500 villas and 400 apartments. Araak
range of over 20. with iron and folic acid. City is changing the way Sudanese people live.

RECYCLING ENGINEERING
As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility Araak Engineering supplies the wider consumer market
programme, Takreer, a PET recycling plant, was with high quality air conditioning and refrigeration units.
launched to reduce the companies’ carbon footprint The company also acts as a supportive backbone to the
and the environmental impact of PET use in Sudan. group’s other companies in bottling and construction.

We at Araak Group believe there is no limit to the opportunities available to a company of our stature to grow and further
develop. We are always encouraging dialogue between other reputable companies and ourselves to study ways on how we
can develop stronger ties to expand our portfolio of operations by investing in new ideas or improving old ones. We believe
this is vital to stay competitive and further strengthen our position at the pinnacle of Sudan’s private sector and achieve
our goal of sustaining a profitable operation.

Araak Group, McNimir Street, P.O. Box 732 - 11111 Khartoum - Sudan • Email: info@[Link] • Website: [Link]
SUDAN

Message from
H.E. Irfan Siddiq obe,
British Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan

S
udan is one of the few largely untapped big markets in Africa. The United Kingdom
and Sudan have historically enjoyed strong business and wider links. Many of these
relationships have proved remarkably resilient and enduring, despite the challenges
of international sanctions and other factors in recent decades. We are keen to see
the United Kingdom and Sudan forge stronger business links as part of a growing broader
engagement, spanning (among other themes) development, human rights and regional
issues. We look forward to continuing to work to support this aim. F

H.E. Irfan Siddiq obe

5
 SUDAN

Paving the way

Interview with IHAB IBRAHIM OSMAN
Chairman, US-Sudan Business Council

Please give us an overview of the origins of the US- leading Sudanese private sector business council for
Sudan Business Council (USSBC), and the objectives outreach to all Western countries.
of the organisation. In terms of objectives, what
are your aims for developing business relationships Does the USSBC have other objectives outside the
and for the development of Sudan? business sphere, such as in the education and
A strong private sector is the surest path to stability cultural exchange arenas?
and inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic When we started the USSBC, the country was still
development. It is with this belief that the US-Sudan subject to the US trade embargo, meaning we were
Business Council (USSBC) was founded in September limited in the activities we could undertake in the
2014 in Washington DC by a group of like-minded business sphere. Thus, we realised that we had to start
IHAB IBRAHIM OSMAN independent Sudanese private sector companies. first by building meaningful civil society relations.
is General Manager of USSBC was actually the product of a concern Accordingly, we reached out to think tanks, universities
NADEC New Businesses, that the then impasse between the US and Sudanese and other civil society institutions in the West,
one of the largest governments would continue. We therefore proposed encouraging them to reappraise Sudan and facilitating
vertically integrated dairy creating an independent forum compliment the access for them to their equivalents in Sudan. This
companies in the world. political dialogue in an independent manner across allowed for a new, non-governmental perspective on
He is also the Chairman a broader and deeper stakeholder base in the private Sudan to be voiced in the West, which we found was
of the US-Sudan Business sector and civil society in both countries. highly effective. We continue to be supportive of not for
Council. Previously, When we reached out to the American Embassy to profit activities, including by providing complimentary
he was CEO of Sudatel hear their thoughts on the matter, it was a pleasant membership for those non-profits we believe to portray
Telecom and has worked surprise to find they were not only open to the idea, the strengths of Sudanese culture and civil society.
for Kuwait Finance but in fact extremely encouraging of it. We reached
House (Bahrain) and out to nine of the leading private sector enterprises Please give an overview of the benefits that the
Verizon Communications in Sudan, many of whom are featured in these pages, USSBC offers, particularly to foreign companies and
in the US. He serves on and were delighted to see them embrace the idea with organisations seeking out opportunities in Sudan?
a number of corporate vigour. With the guidance of the US Embassy, the USSBC membership offers new market entrants a
and non-profit boards, USSBC was incorporated in the US, with a formal trusted local partner for advice, alongside a range of
including the UN Global mandate of facilitating and enabling a strong business, high-level services to strengthen working relationships
Compact Business cultural and educational dialogue between Sudan and in Sudan. The USSBC facilitates and enables exclusive
for Peace Steering the United States. access to meetings and events, executive business
Committee and the intelligence and opportunities to leverage the influence
Khartoum Breast Cancer Does the USSBC work exclusively on the Sudan- and advocacy of the council’s founding members.
Centre Hospital, he also US relationship, or with companies and The USSBC works across three streams to
founded the Impact institutions from other countries? How can your encourage responsible, reliable engagement
role also serve / benefit the relationship with
Hub Khartoum. Osman within Sudan’s business environment. Firstly, we
Europe for example? 
holds a Master of Public provide a platform for a rich dialogue between all
Administration from Over time, as the USSBC established a successful representatives of Sudanese civil society to encourage
Harvard University, track record, we started being the go-to private credible partnerships with global firms. Secondly, we
an MBA from Oxford sector institution in Sudan not just for the US incentivise: the strength of our network between
University and a BSc in Embassy, but also the Embassy of the United Sudan, the UK, US and other Western countries
Electrical Engineering Kingdom, the European Union, and many other encourages firms to explore new commercial and
from the New York diplomatic missions. This is because the Council cultural opportunities and gives our members the
Institute of Technology. provides valuable, actionable business insights and tools to make partnerships successful. Thirdly, we
grassroots intelligence, while facilitating meaningful initiate: we believe that a strong private sector not only
partnerships between foreign investors, business and creates stability but instigates greater transparency
Sudanese entities across the spectrum of Sudanese and accountability, helping our members create long‐
6 society and economy. Today, the USSBC is the lasting, reliable and prosperous partnerships.
What type of companies belong to the USSBC and
what is the criteria for joining? 
‘overcompliance’ issue. We have been working with the
US, UK and European governments to try to overcome
We have
The USSBC’s nine founding members were selected
for their track records for successful operations, their
this, and we are confident that as investor interest in the
country increases, so too will we see an increase in the
created a
high corporate governance standards, their strong
contributions to the communities they operate in,
global banks’ appetite for Sudan exposure.
well-respected
and their desire to see Sudan more integrated and
connected to the international community. We follow
Sudan offers, potentially, many opportunities.
Which sectors of the Sudanese economy are
face for the
particularly ripe for invigorating and where do
these principles when considering any applications
for membership.
you see the short and medium-term opportunities Sudanese
for building mutually beneficial building
We were insistent, from day one, that the USSBC
be established and operated to the highest global
relationships? private sector
standards of a business council. To this end, we are fully
compliant with all US laws and regulations applicable
We are particularly focused on promoting and re-
invigorating the following sectors in the Sudanese
in international
to such bodies, including those covering transparency,
accountability, lobbying activities, due diligence and
economy: agriculture, education, healthcare, banking,
mining and ICT. We believe these have the strongest
capitals from
governance. We believe membership of USSBC must
bring with it a positive reputational impact for each of
potential in the short to medium term, particularly
agriculture and mining, not least because the
Washington
its members. government is strongly encouraging of any ventures
which could lead to increased national exports. Our
DC to London,
What recent successes has the USSBC had?
The USSBC has been widely acknowledged as playing
founding member base has much experience in each of
these sectors and so we are well positioned to be guides
which has had
a pivotal role in the lifting of the US trade embargo, and
prior to that, to the implementation of a general licence
and partners to any incoming companies.
a substantial
from OFAC in relation to ICT for Sudan. Over the
years we have successfully hosted business and banking
How do you envisage the USSBC’s role once the
relationship with US companies is normalised? 
contribution
conferences in Washington DC, New York, London,
and Khartoum in collaboration with highly respected
With sanctions no longer a barrier to full bilateral trade
relations between the US, UK and Sudan, USSBC
to changing
partners including from global law and consulting firms,
valued think tanks and the US Chamber of Commerce.
membership offers new market entrants a range of
services to strengthen their decision-making process
the narrative
Not least, we have created a well-respected face for
the Sudanese private sector in international capitals from
vis-à-vis Sudan investments.
Sudan is the next frontier, but all great opportunities
on Sudan
Washington, DC to London, which has had a substantial come with many challenges. The USSBC is focused
contribution to changing the narrative on Sudan. on helping those with positive interest in Sudan The bridge to Tuti, an
to navigate these challenges and unlock the great island in the heart of
The United States has recently fully lifted potential Sudan offers. F Khartoum, where the
sanctions against Sudan. What impact has this had Parties interested in doing business in Sudan can contact us via our White Nile and the
on the business links between the two countries website, [Link], or directly by email to tsaeed@[Link] Blue Nile merge.
and how do you see these links evolving over the
short to medium term? Are there any legacy issues
as a result of the sanctions which are proving
especially challenging to overcome?

We have already seen US companies re-entering Sudan in a

variety of sectors from agricultural equipment to restaurant
chains. This is a strong indication of the appetite from the
US for business opportunities in the country.
The lifting of the trade embargo has also brought
revitalised interest from European, Asian and regional
companies and institutions, again in a range of sectors
including healthcare, infrastructure, oil and gas
and agriculture.
There remain however, legacy issues particularly in
relation to the banking sector. Global banks continue to
take a very conservative position on Sudan. In this respect,
Sudan is unfortunately a typical example of the global 7
SUDAN

The Republic of Sudan:

Country profile
Facts and Figures The raising of the Sudanese flag at the
Independence Ceremony in 1956
Geography
• Area total: 1,861,484 sq km
• Coastline: 853 km
• Boundaries /border countries (7): Central African
Republic 174 km, Chad 1,403 km, Egypt 1,276 km,
Eritrea 682 km, Ethiopia 744 km, Libya 382 km, South
Sudan 2,158 km

The Nile is Sudan’s primary water source; its major

tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at
Khartoum to form the River Nile which flows northward
through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea

The Nation
• Population: Approximately 40 million The Khalifa’s House: The original cupula of the Mahdi’s
• Major Languages: Arabic (official), English (official), tomb with the new tomb in the background
Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
• Religion: Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
• Etymology: the name Sudan derives from the Arabic
“bilad-as-sudan” meaning “Land of the Black [peoples]”
• Administrative divisions:
• 18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Blue Nile,
Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala,
Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern,
Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South
Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile
• Independence: 1 January 1956 from from Anglo-
Egyptian co-rule

Economic Overview
• The world’s largest exporter of gum arabic, Sudan Satellite image of Khatoum and the meeting of the two Niles
produces 75-80 per cent of the world’s total output.
• Agriculture: cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), hibiscus,
sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane,
grapefruit, mangoes, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame
seeds; animal feed, sheep and other livestock
• Industries: oil, cotton ginning, textiles, food
Blue Nile
production, edible oils, soap distilling, petroleum
refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light
truck assembly, milling
White
• Exports: gold; oil and petroleum products; cotton, Nile
sesame, livestock, peanuts, gum arabic, hibiscus

Source: The CIA World Factbook

Source: NASA
9

FIRST
 SUDAN

Sudan’s agro-tech pioneers

By AHMED ABDELLATIF
Group President, CTC Group

C
TC Group leads the transfer and contributing one third of GDP (31.3 per cent), generating
implementation of world-class agro over US$30bn and employing over 80 per cent of the
technologies into the Sudanese agricultural workforce. CTC Group is the leading independent
sector. Under our tagline Moving Forward, private sector company in the Sudanese agricultural
the Group’s vision has always been to develop an inputs and agro technology sector with three specialised
enterprise that would fulfil a larger societal purpose, companies delivering an integrated range of products and
bringing economic prosperity beyond the marketplace services across the agricultural cycle:
and into the homes of people in Sudan. • CTC Agrochemicals is the leading player in the field of
Over our 60-year history, CTC Group has built a agricultural inputs, providing technology packages such as
diversified business portfolio and is now also Sudan’s agrochemicals, fertilisers, hybrid and improved seeds and
AHMED ABDELLATIF market leader in the manufacturing and distribution pesticides application equipment. CTC Agrochemicals
has been the Group of consumer electronics and home appliances, IT promotes the responsible use of its products.
President of CTC for ten infrastructure and software solutions, and also has • CTC Engineering has partnered with the world’s
years. Over his career interests in construction and property development, largest manufacturers of agricultural equipment,
with CTC he has led the commercial vehicles, earthmoving and construction providing tractors, harvesters and tools customised
transformation of CTC machinery and agricultural commodity exports. CTC for Sudan. CTC Engineering is also a market leader
from a family business continues to foster partnerships across the globe with in irrigation and water management systems, pumps,
with less than 50 enterprises that share our commitment to transforming pivot irrigation systems, land preparation, harvesting
employees into one of people’s lives, exclusively representing over 60 world technologies, post-harvest and storage technologies and
the leading multi sector leading global brands in Sudan. cold storage systems, with a nationwide service and parts
corporates in East Africa, An equal opportunity employer, CTC Group network and comprehensive client support services.
employing over 1,500 emphasises the development of Sudanese human • CTC Farms has established the first modern
professionals. Ahmed resources, running apprenticeship and graduate programs nurseries in Sudan for the production of seedlings and
Abdellatif sits on the to give vocational training and university graduates the their distribution to greenhouses and fields to ensure
board of a number of opportunity to build successful careers. Now one of the quality of production.
companies and is actively leading conglomerates in Sudan, we have over 1,500 full
engaged in various civil time employees, of whom 1,000 work in agriculture. Technology Transfer Centres
society organisations. He CTC Group has used its 60-years’ experience to
is the founding President Pioneering the transfer of agrotechnology improve agricultural practices in Sudan, introducing the
of the Sudanese Young Agriculture is the most important sector in Sudan, first private technology transfer centres (TTCs) to keep
Businessmen Association farmers’ abreast of the latest developments.
and a founding member Our TTCs facilitate the transfer of
and Vice Chairman of agricultural technology to farmers by
the US Sudan Business increasing capacity, conducting field
Council (USSBC). demonstrations (pilot farms) and educational
seminars, improving input supply,
machinery/implements and spare parts and
providing expert advice.
These world-class centres are equipped
with agronomists, service teams, workshops
and warehouses with the equipment to
The Group adopts address customer needs throughout the
modern Warehousing year. The network has grown to include
Management Systems Sudan’s major agricultural areas, with
(WMS) to manage one branches in Khartoum, Gadarif, Medani,
of the largest retail Kadugli, Sennar, Damer, Obaid, Eldabba,
10 operations in Sudan Dongola and Nyala.
Capacity building & in-field support
CTC Group has also invested in
Since our
training centres equipped with the latest
educational tools and technologies.
establishment
The Group recently set up the CTC
Academy, equipped with modern
in 1956, CTC
simulators for operator training and
certification, as well as the CNH
Group remains
Training Centre in partnership with
Case New Holland - the latter being the
committed to
first regional hub in East Africa for all
CNH customers.
investment
The Group has also developed
a Farmers to Farmers Program, a
in, and the
networking platform to share best
practices and success stories between
development
farmers who have adopted customised
technology packages provided by CTC Group that CTC Group Code of Business Ethics.
of, Sudanese
helped boost productivity and yield.
Some of the success stories include the increase of
CTC is also a founding sponsor of Mashrouy, a
Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, in partnership
agriculture
Sorghum yield in the state of Gadarif where CTC with the British Council and the British Embassy
Agrochemicals introduced a series of technology packages in Sudan.
that improved yields from 300kg/ha to over 2ton/ha and In November 2015, CTC Group sponsored and
helped increase the total planted area by 40 per cent. hosted the first ever Sudanese private sector-funded
US Congressional Delegation visit to Sudan in Top:
Commodity exports partnership with leading US think tank the Humpty Al Damer TTC: the
Sudan has many commodities in global demand, Dumpty Institute. The delegation visited Sudan at latest in an ever
notably gum arabic, exporting almost 80 per cent of the start of the process to normalise relations between expanding network of
world supply. CTC Group is a leading gum arabic Sudan and the United States that led to the lifting of Technology Transfer
exporter, putting community protection and welfare at US sanctions in October 2017. Centres across Sudan’s
the core of its partnerships with global food ingredients Sudan has 40 million hectares of unused arable land. main agricultural areas
companies. The Group is also setting up processing At CTC Group, we believe that agriculture will remain
plants across Sudan to add value locally and boost key for Sudan and presents attractive investment Below:
farming communities’ incomes. opportunities in agri-services and logistics, livestock, Visiting US
agri-manufacturing and other areas. We remain Congressional
Environmentally and socially responsible committed to investment in, and the development of, delegates inside
CTC Group encourages the transfer of modern this sector and to keeping the Sudanese agricultural CTC Nursery in
agricultural practices aligned with Good Agricultural sector Moving Forward. F Khartoum North
Practices (GAP), meeting strict international standards
in providing the safest and best quality of inputs from
reputable global suppliers. CTC Group is committed
to meeting community interests as well as protecting
the environment.
As a major exporter of gum arabic, the Group has
worked closely with farming communities to develop
sustainable infrastructure and facilities to improve
living standards.
CTC Group believes in doing business “the right
way,” behaving ethically, contributing to sustainable
development and improving the quality of life of its
workforce and their families by designing its activities
to be financially profitable, socially beneficial and
ecologically sustainable. CTC Group is a signatory
to the UN Global Compact, and all CTC Group
employees are formally required to adhere to the 11
 SUDAN

Reflecting the pace of change

Interview with YOUSIF EL TINAY
CEO, United Capital Bank

Text to The US lifted sanctions in October 2017; what has

been the impact of the 20-year embargo on the
But…
Exactly. The problem is that 20 years is a long time to
go here
financial sector? have been out of the game, and there are many people
Obviously, lifting the sanctions is a major event, a in the international financial sector that have never dealt
turning point. But let’s look at the bigger picture: in with Sudan, who weren’t around in the pre-sanctions
1997, the United States imposed sanctions on Sudan, period. And what’s worse, they are unsure about the
listing it as a sponsor of terrorism. The last two situation here: the sanctions have been lifted but the
decades have also seen violence in some regions and country remains on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
of course since 2011, the southern part of the country There has been progress in some areas of the economy,
seceded and formed South Sudan, taking with it most with foreign players coming in, but the international
YOUSIF EL TINAY of Sudan’s oil reserves. Estimates put the total loss financial community is being very cautious.
started his banking due to the sanctions at around US$500 billion , with
career in 1996 with an indirect loss of some US$4 billion annually. The What we might call the’ BNP Paribas Scare’ factor?
Banque Paribas in Qatar, sanctions banned just about every kind of commercial Yes: in 2015, BNP Paribas was fined US$8.8 billion
rising to the position of and financial dealings with Sudan, and as a result, the for circumventing the US sanctions, and obviously
Deputy General Manager. banking sector was isolated from the global financial that sent a powerful message out to the international
In 2007 he returned to system. The sanctions have resulted in heavy losses to financial community. The problem we face now is that
Sudan to help establish foreign investors in Sudan, as well as adding further international financial organisations are not motivated
United Capital Bank, restrictions on exporters. There has been a loss of trust to reach out after years of either doing just fine without
the first specialised between international financial institutions. Sudan or being punished for doing so. Banks are afraid
corporate finance to deal with Sudan and have not been educated out of
bank in Sudan. He has How optimistic are you about the future? their fear or complacency.
been CEO of UCB since Lifting the sanctions should mean our country’s return
2016. He holds a BA in to the world financial system, allowing us to facilitate Do you feel the United States has done enough to
Economics and Business banking operations and procedures for exports let the world know that the sanctions have been
Administration from and imports, and we should now be able to resume lifted and that Sudan is open for business?
the University of Qatar contact with international financial and investment Washington’s view is that it has no responsibility to tell
and is an alumnus of institutions. In turn, it should contribute to improving the world that Sudan is once again open for business.
Harvard Business School the exchange rate of the Sudanese currency, boosting It’s our job to get out there and tell the world and to
having graduated from the private sector by allowing greater access to financial then provide the documentation. Right now, only a
the General Management sources to obtain funds… handful of people know the sanctions have been lifted.
Programme in 2009. Until a high-ranking US official (e.g.
the US president) or CNN goes on the
record and says loud and clear that the
US is happy to start dealing with Sudan
again, we in the Sudanese financial
sector are going to have to go around
knocking on a lot of doors, explaining
the new reality. We have been talking to
all the big international banks, inviting
them to return to Sudan. We need one
big player to come in and then the others
will hopefully follow suit. At this point,
we’re not even talking about investing
in Sudan, simply for the international
United Capital Bank’s banks to act as correspondence banks,
12 headquarters in Khartoum to help with transferring money. The

FIRST
problem is that there isn’t much money to be made
by doing that. I think it will be a slow process, because
entities and large projects in both the private and public
sectors. These include innovative and customised finance
Sudan is
for the moment, banks are going to be paying a lot of
attention to compliance laws.
products and services to meet our client’s needs and assist
them in achieving their operational, development and
a major
Tell us a little about UCB and its efforts to
growth targets.
UCB’s corporate banking services include trade finance
emerging
encourage the international banking community
to do business with Sudan
services, arranging and managing syndicated facilities,
current accounts and investment accounts.
investment
The bank was set up in 2005 by a group of investors
from Kuwait, Lebanon and Egypt, and we’ve been What is your assessment of Sudan’s banking sector
opportunity,
on the Sudanese stock exchange since 2007, and then
late last year, coinciding with the lifting of sanctions,
almost one year after the US lifted economic
sanctions? offering
a group of leading Sudanese investors staged a 40 per
cent buyout of the bank’s shares, so we’re now 60 per
Although we have been cut off from the international
financial system, the banking sector has moved forward.
access to one
cent Sudanese and 40 per cent foreign owned. Our
strategy is now to establish ourselves as a credible entity
About a decade ago, the authorities embarked on a series
of reforms to strengthen the financial system and improve
of the few
in the eyes of the international financial community,
so our focus is on getting a rating by institutions such
the performance of the banking sector. Supervisory
and legal and regulatory frameworks were improved,
untouched
as Moody’s and Fitch. Then, if a big overseas bank
wants to start dealing with Sudan, they can come and
particularly in the areas of corporate governance, risk
management, and provisioning.
markets in
look at our bank and see the report. It’s essential for
Sudan’s banks to be clearly seen to meet international
Security instruments are also traded on the Khartoum
Stock Exchange, and around 40 brokerage firms operate
the world
criteria, which we do. Within that context, UCB is in the market. Secondary market activity is limited to
positioning itself as a local bank with considerable over-the-counter trades, and is largely dominated by
international experience. We’ve already played a key government securities. Access to securities markets is
role in financing through our branches in Khartoum, open to local and foreign investors, including banks,
Khartoum North and Omdurman, providing Islamic corporate entities, financial institutions and individuals. Bottom Left:
financial solutions to strategic projects in the fields Now that sanctions have been lifted, Sudan is UCB has a leading position
of infrastructure, corporate finance and small and poised to offer unique investment opportunities and in gold pre-export finance
medium sized enterprises in industry, agriculture, a welcoming business climate, particularly for the
mining, trade and services. natural resources/mining industry, the agricultural Bottom Right:
In a little over a decade, UCB has acquired a leading industry, the livestock industry, as well as several others. The Gezira Scheme is
position in financing these key areas of the economy, As one of Africa’ largest countries, Sudan is a major Sudan’s most fertile
as well as financing exports such as sesame seeds, gum emerging investment opportunity, offering access to agricultural area.
Arabic, livestock, gold and cotton, while also funding one of the few untouched markets in the world. I am One of the largest
imports of wheat, sugar, production inputs, medicine and optimistic about the future and in line with the overall irrigation projects in
capital equipment. development in the local market and banking services the world, it produces
Like all banks in Sudan, we’re Shariah compliant, and in the region; we believe our next challenge will be a large variety of crops,
we offer a complete range of financial services to corporate “going digital” by or before 2022. F including cotton

13

FIRST
 SUDAN

Investing in the future

By HASSAN ABDELHALIM
General Manager and Business Development, Araak

Please give a brief overview of the history of Araak. 10 production lines and directly distribute to some
The company was founded by my grandfather, who is 35,000 clients from seven nationwide distribution
group chairman, shortly after Sudanese independence centres. We were the first company to introduce PET
in the mid-1960s and he initially traded and exported bottles and canned products to the Sudanese market.
agricultural commodities and food staples. Over the I should add that our Pepsi is probably the cheapest in
last half century, the Araak group has developed into the world, making it widely available to all Sudanese
one of Sudan’s leading conglomerates, which now consumers, although we expect to see continued
has eight divisions: bottling, engineering, milling, growth in the coming years in per capita consumption:
construction and real estate, banking and insurance, unlike the rest of the world, where carbonated soft
recycling, retail food distribution and retail food. drinks consumption per capita is shrinking, in Sudan
HASSAN ABDELHALIM it is increasing.
is a holder of CFA What was the turning point for the group and the
level one with an factors that have driven growth? What sectors of your business do you expect Araak
undergraduate degree After the Vietnam War, international cotton prices to focus on over the next few years? 
in economics & finance dropped and our chairman decided to take the business We intend to consolidate on food, expanding to flour-
from the University in a different direction. With Sudan opening up and the based products, moving our flour business into more
of Manchester. He has economy booming we opened Sudan’s second 5-star value-added items like pasta and biscuits, as well as
worked in the fields hotel. In the mid 1980s political instability lead to a exploring the dairy and tea markets.
of finance, marketing, sharp fall in tourism and business travel and the local In 2001, we set up Wheata, which produces high-
sales and is a founding hospitality industry started to shrink. We managed to quality flour, bran and semolina, as well as yeast. Since
partner of a multi- keep ahead of the game by setting up a bottling factory, then it has undergone two large production capacity
outlet QSR business. later winning the Pepsi franchise. In fact we are now expansions and created the only seaside grain terminal
Initially starting his the soft drink’s second oldest franchisee in the region in Sudan. It’s the second largest mill in the country, able
career as a financial and the largest soft drinks producer in Sudan, with to mill 2,750 tons a day. At the same time, we intend to
analyst at Kenana more than 40 products, so this really was the turning develop our seaside terminal by installing a grain ship
Engineering & Technical the point for Araak. We have three bottling plants and loader, which will allow other Sudanese exporters to
Services, Hassan’s career get their products to market
progressed to include m u c h m o r e e f f i c i e n t l y.
several posts including Property and real estate also
Senior Financial Analyst, has huge potential in Sudan,
Project Manager, as seen by our Araak City
Business Development development in Khartoum.
Manager and now his
current role as GM of What advice can Araak offer
an Araak company. foreign investors in Sudan?
Based in Khartoum, Foreign investors treat Sudan
Hassan is Vice-Chair like any other Middle Eastern
Business Development or African country, yet it is
and a founding member a unique mix of both. Our
of the US-Sudan advice is to study the market
Business Council. and avoid presumptions.
Partnerships can be very
useful, and companies
coming into Sudan should
Araak’s bottling division seek the right partner for
is Sudan’s largest soft them, not necessarily the
14 drinks manufacturer leader in the market.
The partial lifting of sanctions has been a game
changer for doing business in Sudan. What is
How important is CSR to Araak?
CSR is at the heart of everything we do: for example,
Despite the
difficulties
your prognosis for the further opening up of the recycling is an integral part of our overall vision. In 2014
business environment in Sudan to foreign capital
we set up a PET recycling plant, with all profits going
and business expertise?
We think things are moving very quickly since
back in to the business. We use a lot of PET plastic so we
feel we have a responsibility to recycle and to reduce our
of the last
sanctions were lifted in October 2017, but it’s also
true that the real tipping point will come when Sudan
carbon footprint. Most of this is from landfills, and we
also buy bottles collected by unemployed young people,
two decades,
is removed from the US list of state sponsors of
terrorism. Business relationships have opened up but
providing them with an alternative income. We train
students of all levels all year round. Our goal is simply
Sudan has
not banking ones, and that remains the most difficult
obstacle, but we are optimistic that on that front things
to help create a good business environment where
entrepreneurs can flourish. We also feel it is important
developed
will change soon. for young women to study, particularly those from rural
areas, which is why we funded the construction of a
a strong,
Which project in cooperation with a foreign
partner best illustrates your approach to doing
new dormitory, named after our founder and chairman,
which opened last year providing accommodation to
dynamic,
business in Sudan?
Pepsi was the game changer for us. Now we’re
2,000 female students.
modern
working closely with KFC and Pizza Hut and we’re
very excited to be bringing them to Sudan. We aim
Is there a final message you’d like to pass on to
potential investors in Sudan? economy and
to open around 20 stores over three years in the
Khartoum area, after which we’ll expand to the rest
As a key company in the Sudanese economy, we want
to show the world that despite the difficulties of
the country
of the country. We plan to open the first Pizza Hut
and KFC in December of this year.
the last two decades, Sudan has developed a strong,
dynamic, modern economy and the country is open
is open for
Are there any new areas where the group is
for business: in short, we’re a modern and forward
thinking nation. We want to change the narrative
business
actively seeking to pursue opportunities in about Sudan and create a win-win for everyone. As
cooperation with foreign partners? part of our commitment to raising awareness about
Sudan is now contending to be Africa’s second-largest the opportunities in Sudan, we decided to cofound the
gold exporter, after South Africa, which is an incredible US-Sudan Business Council. The idea was to improve
achievement, given that we only have small-scale relations with US and to point out to Washington that
artisanal operations here, and it certainly indicates the sanctions were hitting ordinary Sudanese people
the potential of the sector if an industrial approach to and businesses. Now that the sanctions have been
mining is adopted. lifted, we believe that Sudan’s moment has come.  F

Wheata has a milling

capacity of 2,750
tonnes per day 15
 SUDAN

Empowering women
By TARNEEM SAEED
Chief Executive Officer, [Link] and Head of Strategy, Saeed Industrial & Commercial Group

B
elieve it or not, I am far from being the only coffee table book on Sudanese art with our family friend,
woman running a successful operation in Lina Haggar; helping to pull together a US-focused
Sudan. This is in fact one of the charms of private sector outreach body (now the US-Sudan
Sudan: its paradoxical nature. No stereotypes Business Council), and not least, getting to grips with the
apply here. Women have played a strong role in Sudanese tremendous legacy my forefathers had left us in the shape
society for millennia. In fact, there is a strong tradition of of Saeed Industrial & Commercial Group, which fell to
powerful queens, known as Kandakas, dating back more my father’s generation and ours to carry into a new era.
than a millennium. Ours is a culture where the Afro-Arab Some two years into my return to Sudan, after travel
norm of patriarchy is tempered by a strong tradition of for Saeed Group had taken me to many neighbouring
powerful matriarchs. My own great-grandmother was a African countries, I began to question why the
TARNEEM SAEED successful businesswoman at the turn of the 19th Century, consumer internet revolution had skipped Sudan.
was educated in Sudan, a rare occurrence at the time in many parts of the world. We had good mobile internet penetration rates, a
Canada and the United Today, I play a key strategic role at board level
Kingdom and holds a in our family business, Saeed Industrial &
LLB from the London Commercial Group, where I (and the rest of
School of Economics. the board) are supported by multiple senior
After working for Allen female managers. This is also the case in many
& Overy, she chose of the businesses owned by our private-sector
to return to Sudan as colleagues. My consumer internet start-up,
head of strategy for the [Link], is also driven by strong female
Saeed Group. In 2016, leaders. In the non-business world, I sit on the
she co-founded alsoug. board of the Khartoum Breast Care Centre,
com, of which she is Sudan’s leading breast care hospital, which is run
now the CEO. Alsoug. by an exceptional Sudanese woman, Dr Hania
com is Sudan’s largest Fadl. No doubt women do face challenges
online classifieds portal. to succeed in Sudan, including in relation to
Tarneem is an executive aspects of law and society that need to change
director of the US-Sudan to be in tune with the times. However,from my
Business Council and own experience, I can say that it is possible for
sits on the board of the women in Sudan to realise their potential and
Khartoum Breast Care achieve their own success.
Centre. She is also a By way of background, my brother,
member of the board of Tamir and I spent our early years in Sudan
the Smithsonian National and completed our higher education in the
Museum of African Art in West. We then built lives for ourselves in
Washington, DC. Britain, he as a banker, and I as a lawyer. And
thus, it could have remained. We could have
wished Sudan well, bestowing on it not more
than a few fleeting holidays and a hands-off
approach to through charitable donations,
Right: but otherwise wholly embracing our new
Amanitore was a Nubian lives abroad.
Kandaka or Queen A few years ago, however, a series of events
regnant of the ancient disrupted our contented lives in London,
Kingdom of Kush at and next thing I knew, I was on a plane back
Meroë, about 200 miles to Sudan. Before I could catch my breath, I
16 north-east of Khartoum found myself working on the production of a
decently literate population, and a relatively high
GDP. What was going on? Researching deeper into
in close-knit and ambiguous circles. By enabling
direct-dealing between sellers and buyers, [Link]
[Link]
the subject, I realised that the reason tech start-ups
had not, until that time, had much success in Sudan,
immediately removed consumers’ desperate reliance
on the middle-men, making transactions much easier,
is enabling
was that there were in fact substantial hurdles in place,
which continue to this day. These include no unified
and more efficient and beneficial to both the buyer and
the seller. Moreover, [Link] increases the number of
women to
e-payment system, patchy internet service, a regulatory
environment more geared to conservative business
transactions carried out, by connecting sellers faster to
more buyers – one regular user says he sells more real
take charge
models, and not least the lingering after effects of the
US trade embargo which was lifted in 2017 after 20
estate through [Link] in a month than he did in a
year pre-alsoug. In addition, as the [Link] database
of key life-
years. Brainstorming with Tamir, we decided that in
order to do something about it, we had to start with
has grown, it has become a pricing reference point,
increasing transparency in the country and enabling
purchases,
something comprehensive, and self-sufficient, that
didn’t require any external infrastructure or support.
consumers to understand better the value of what they
are buying and selling. Especially in an inflationary
such as
Thus it was that we launched [Link], which is now
Sudan’s largest online classifieds platform.
environment where prices can change quite significantly
even by the week, we offer consumers an extremely
cars and
[Link] is subtly transforming Sudan in many
ways. For example, we found that key consumer sectors,
valuable (yet free) service.
Whilst I noted above the strong matriarchal tradition
real estate,
like real estate, cars and electronics, are predominantly
dominated by ‘middle-men’, many of whom operate
in Sudan, it is nonetheless conservative. There are
domains in the public space such as stalls in markets
without
and auction spaces which are traditionally
more male-dominated. Female entrepreneurs
having to
try to overcome this restriction by operating
their businesses from their homes, through
be reliant
WhatsApp or Facebook groups to advertise
their goods and services - but the reach of these
on a man
groups is of course limited. [Link] has a
special section for Sudanese women, with sub-
categories tailored specifically to reflect their
needs. This has hugely magnified the access of
these female entrepreneurs to new customers.
In addition, by moving traditionally male-
dominated public spaces online, [Link]
is also enabling women to take charge of key
life-purchases, such as cars and real estate,
without having to be reliant on a man. It was
that a woman, no matter how powerful, wealthy
or independent, needed a man to attend a car
auction for her or even sometimes to contact
a middle-man on her behalf. With the advent
of [Link], she can now search, choose,
negotiate and buy, all by herself, using just the
power of her mobile phone and [Link].
The global media has not been too kind
to Sudan in the past few decades. It is true
that this is still a country with much room to Top left:
progress, including in the areas of country-wide [Link] provides
development and political inclusion. However, a platform for
having lived here for four years now, I can the commercial
say without hesitation that - notwithstanding empowerment of women
the isolation that 20 years of US sanctions
have imposed on the country – Sudan is a Bottom left:
hidden jewel in Africa’s crown, one that we, Dr Hania Fadl, founder
the companies and individuals featured in this of the Khartoum
edition, are determined to uncover.  F Breast Care Centre 17
ENRICHING EVERY DAY Saeed Group Headquarters,
Saeed Food Factory Compound,
Saeed businesses have always operated with our founders’ strong ethical Industrial Area, Khartoum North,
values firmly in mind. We pride ourselves on business decisions that are Sudan.
responsible. To us, responsible means business that is profitable, sustainable,
and environmentally and socially ethical. Accordingly, we invest for the long Telephone: +249 185 314 319
term. When we go into a new sector or a new region, we expect to be there for Fax: +249 185 311 685
decades, not months or years.
[Link] Email: info@[Link]
SUDAN

A committed relationship
By DR ZUHEIR SAEED
Chief Executive Officer, Saeed Group

S
aeed Industrial & Commercial Group, or a corrugated cardboard factory, Middle East Packaging
Saeed Group was established in Khartoum, (MEP), and then a plastics manufacturing plant, Mabco.
Sudan as a trading house in the 1940s. In the Both new ventures were built using the same robust
1970s, after three decades of successful trade manufacturing principles that had ensured the success
operations, and as Sudan began to open economically of Saeed Food Factory and Baraka, making the two new
to the world, we decided to add agro-industry to our factories highly successful businesses in their own right.
portfolio. In doing so, we hoped to support the vision Today, MEP has a solid reputation for high quality,
of Sudan as the breadbasket of the region. Thus, we reliable carton supply. Using advanced machinery
built Saeed Food Factory, one of the first private agro- and world-class technology, MEP serves a wide range
processing complexes in East Africa. of sectors, including the FMCG industry, the motor
DR ZUHEIR SAEED Saeed Food Factory was, and remains to this day, a oil industry, fruits and vegetables export sector, and
holds a doctorate in food standard of high-quality manufacturing excellence for local food restaurant chains, just to name a few. Our
technology from the East and Central Africa. Its management included one highly-technical approach to MEP, combined with our
National College of Food of Sudan’s first food technologists and the director of strong understanding of market demands and trends,
Technology at Reading the Food Research Centre. Its products, which range means that we provide our customers with a dynamic
University. With a strong from tomato paste to jam, are household names across comprehensive service which includes designing,
technical background the country – synonymous in fact with the very spirit manufacturing and delivering products to meet our
and almost 35 years of being Sudanese. To this day, Saeed Food Factory customers’ precise demands.
of business experience products dominate their respective markets in Sudan In 2012, Saeed Group decided to build further on
he has consolidated both in terms of market share and penetration. our FMCG strength by expanding into pharmaceuticals
the Saeed Group and With the advent of Saeed Food Factory, the family with the acquisition of MEDICA Import & Distribution
implemented a strategy established a reputation for responsible and sustainable Company, a Sudan-based company which had held
of fortifying historic core manufacturing. Building on this, in the early 1980s, we a well-respected presence in the pharmaceutical
competencies, strategic expanded first into biscuits and then into snacks, under distribution sector for over fifty years. Today, MEDICA
horizontal expansion, the Baraka brand. In building Baraka, we applied the holds the exclusive distributorship for a broad range of
and diversification into same principles that had guided Saeed Food Factory, respected pharmaceutical companies, including Reckitt
new sectors. He is an namely an insistence on nutritious and affordable food Benckiser (Dettol), Novo Nordisk (Insulin), Pfizer
active Rotarian (being products. Today, Baraka Biscuits equal breakfast for and Beiersdorf AG (Nivea). The result of this strong
a past President and many families in Sudan, a tremendous responsibility portfolio, combined with our comprehensive country-
Rotary Foundation that we will strive to maintain for generations to come. wide distribution network, means the group has been
Chairman for Sudan) In the 1990s, to serve our Fast-Moving Consumer able to consolidate MEDICA’s position as one of the
and is currently Goods (FMCG) producing factories, we first established leading companies in its field.
President of the Sudan For decades our FMCG food brands and
Archaeological Society. plastic products have had a presence in markets in
neighbouring countries. Recently we have embarked
on formalising this presence through agency
agreements and new industrial ventures in East and
Central Africa. We are keen to find ways to make the
high-quality, affordable products we manufacture more
readily available to the wider African market.
Five years ago, we decided the time had come to revisit
the original dream of our forbears, to harness Sudan’s
tremendous natural resources in an ethical and sustainable
manner, so as to contribute to the development of
the nation. Thus, we decided to expand our strategic
Baraka products, integral investments in the agriculture sector and additionally,
to everyday Sudanese life in the mining sector. This expansion reflects  19
 SUDAN

Its products,  our belief that the future of Sudan is in the responsible
and sustainable use of its rich natural resources.
and health clinics, and apprenticeship programmes
across all areas of our operations.
which range The Saeed Agricultural Project is a multi-faceted
scheme that seeks to develop Sudan’s agrarian resources
Furthermore, we were amongst the first in East
Africa with awareness of the environmental impact
from tomato for both domestic and overseas consumption, tapping
into the high-demand markets of the Arabian Gulf. It
of manufacturing. We consistently take action to
minimise and/or mitigate any negative environmental
paste to jam, features a state-of-the-art cattle-fattening facility, high-
tech fish farming and modern agricultural techniques
impact from our businesses.
Saeed Group companies are well-known for their equal
are household such as cold-house and pivots. Our respect for the
fragile ecosystem of the Nile Valley is an integral part
opportunities’ human resource hire practices. In fact, for
decades more than 50 per cent of the workforce in all of
names across of our production methods which are engineered to
ensure the least possible impact on the environment.
our businesses are women. In all our businesses, where
possible, we draw our employees from the surrounding
the country – In the 1970s, my uncle, a hydro-geologist, began
to study the mineral resources of Sudan. Through the
communities. We are one of the few conglomerates in
Sudan to have virtually no foreign staff.
synonymous oil boom of the 1990s, he impressed upon me his idea
that the Group was neglecting the true treasure of our
Over the years, our deep roots into Sudanese society
have encouraged us to do our part to preserve and protect
in fact with country, its incredible mining potential. His words struck
a chord within me and mining in Sudan became, not only
the cultural heritage of our nation. As president of the
Sudan Archaeological Society, I along with my fellow
the very a potential business for me, but a new passion altogether.
When we founded Saeed Mining Company, we did so
Society members, have striven to protect and, promote
and restore Sudan’s unique archaeological treasures.
spirit of being with a particular social mandate, to assist some of the most
neglected of the Sudanese people. This resulted in our
We believe that we have a responsibility to this
boundless country that has given us so much, and we are
Sudanese decision to take a concession not in the more well-known
northern parts of the country, but rather in one of the
optimistic that our next eighty years in Sudan will be at
least as fruitful for us as the last eighty years have been. F
most under-developed areas of the country, Blue Nile
State. Our aim was never a get-rich quick scheme; on the Tomatoes on trial at the Saeed Agricultural Project
contrary we were determined to create not just a world-
class mine, but one which reaps dividends not today,
but tomorrow, and not just for our children and grand-
children, but for the children and grandchildren of those
whose ancestors had inhabited that land for centuries.
My great-grandparents came to this country more
than a century ago, and to this day we are struck
by the generous and welcoming nature of the
Alsadig Alkhatim, people of Sudan. We have sought over the
one of the decades to emulate these principles, and to
company’s make them intrinsic to our own way of life.
many long-time From the early days of the 1940s, our holistic
employees, who approach to corporate social responsibility
oversees the state has always been and continues to be a Raw materials preparing for processing at the Middle
of the art fundamental part of our businesses, East Packaging’s corrugated cardboard factory
canning line including financial contributions
and stakeholder engagement
with local communities. We
strongly believe that this
ethos has and will continue to
contribute to our success and
longevity in Sudan.
Annual contributions from
each Saeed Group Company
support community-based
initiatives including food
distribution, scholarships
and grants, educational
20 infrastructure, medical treatment
SUDAN

A catalyst for transformation

By AMMAR HAMADIEN
International Communications and Information Technology Executive

S
udan was one of the first countries in the region to cash-based society. In spite of the slow adoption of mobile-
introduce telecommunications services at the end based payment solutions into the financial system; the local
of the 19th century. In the 1990s, the sector saw a regulators and financial institutions are pushing forward
major shift driven by the privatisation of the state- to encourage and increase the rate of financial inclusion.
owned incumbent and the creation of a ministry in charge With the recent announcements of several government
of sector policies and legislation, and a regulator. This agencies, and the push towards e-government services, a
opened the door for foreign investments. Zain, MTN stronger push for a cashless society must be made both
and Etisalat have invested hundreds of millions of dollars by the public and private sectors. Enabling legislation
in infrastructure throughout the country. The sector has must be put in place to open the space for entrepreneurs
been one of the fastest growing in the country for many and innovators to offer Financial Technology (FinTech)
AMMAR HAMADIEN years thanks to the more than US$7 billion in investments solutions to government agencies, enterprises and, most
leads GSMA engagement from licensed operators in the past 15 years. importantly, the general public. Increasing the rate of
with mobile operators, Today, there are three mobile telecommunications financial inclusion allows citizens to establish sustainable
policy-makers and service providers – Zain Sudan, MTN Sudan, Sudatel micro-businesses and improves their overall financial
technology providers – and Canar which provides solutions primarily to the health. The ability to transact with a push of a button will
across the MENA region enterprise sector. The sector connects 72 per cent of the impact all the sectors mentioned above.
to further the digital and population but less than 50 per cent are connected through For the past ten years I have been involved in various
financial inclusion in the mobile broadband. The market remains predominately initiatives in the Middle East and Africa to provide the
region. He has over 20 pre-paid, more than 95 per cent of subscribers opt for unbanked with tools to embrace the idea of on-demand
years’ experience in ICT. Pay-as-You-Go offers. finance through the use of mobile technologies and
He started his career It is evident that investment in ICT has played a cloud computing. My goal is to help foster a business and
in technical roles for major role in shifting societies out of poverty, positively regulatory environment for the growth and expansion of
HP and Cisco. More impacted GDP per capita and enhanced employment FinTech companies. This requires a progressive mindset
recently, we was CEO of rates. Sudan is no different, technology will play a across the public and private sectors. Therefore, a major
Chinguitel in Mauritania critical role in the economic development of the country. focus of my work is placed on RegTech.
and has worked for However, much remains to be done to reap the many Sudan’s financial sector is beginning to feel some
Zain Group in Bahrain, benefits technology can provide. relief following the lifting of the economic sanctions
Kuwait and Sudan. The digitalisation of various elements in the agricultural that negatively impacted progress in the financial and
Hamadien holds an value chains is a critical requirement for this important technology sectors. It is very important that we build
MBA from Imperial sector in Sudan. Mobile-based solutions for agricultural our future plans on solid ground to enable the right
College London Business processes can improve the procurement of crops from combination of regulation and technology in the financial
School and a BSc in smallholder farmers, provide technical advice via mobile sector in Sudan. The plan is for the country to implement
Management Information phones to farmers in remote farms to improve agricultural RegTech solutions that enable the banking sector to
Systems from California practices and help them improve their efficiency and digitise all aspects of data analytics, compliance and
State University. return on investments. significantly reduce operational risks. This is critically
ICT can help improve the literacy rate in Sudan, now important in a market that will see a rapid increase in the
around 70 per cent. With 40 per cent of the country’s number of FinTech companies that will provide various
population under the age of 15 and 20 per cent between services and solutions to the public.
15-25, learning solutions linked to ICT can play a critical While there is a wide array of applications within the
role in building a knowledge society that can uplift the FinTech industry, the goal is to enable the introduction
country in the years to come. of business models that provide the vast numbers of
Having the ability to make transactions, payments, unbanked Sudanese with the means to transform their
savings, credit and insurance among others is a catalyst for economic and social status through the use of tools and
enhancing prosperity in Sudan. Today, Sudan remains at means to start micro-businesses, obtain Sharia-compliant
the bottom of the list when it comes to financial inclusion micro loans and crowd-fund small projects. This is of
a large proportion of the population having no access to course a major opportunity for the financial sector as a
any financial instruments. The economy remains largely a whole and to banks in particular.  F 21
 SUDAN

Growth through diversification

By ANTHONY A. HAGGAR
Chief Executive Officer, Haggar Group

H
aggar’s roots run deep in Sudan. sustainable development across the continent. Our focus
Established in what is now South will continue to be on opportunities that enable multiple
Sudan at the turn of the 20th century, stakeholders in an equitable manner, not only satisfying
today Haggar operates in eight sectors our shareholders but also supporting the achievement of
across six countries in Africa and continues to look for SDGs within the countries we invest in and across the
opportunities to invest and develop the private sector continent at large. based on transparency and mutual
across Africa. trust, with the goal of making our success equitable across
The company’s founder, Mikhail Haggar, set the the communities, environment, partners and employees
company up in 1904, in Juba, South Sudan, and we work with.
within two decades, the family had established tea Haggar operates in six key areas:
ANTHONY A. HAGGAR and coffee plantations, as well as diversifying into
holds a Bachelor of tobacco cultivation and cigarette manufacturing, Agriculture: GLB Invest is developin g one of the
Science in Business along with gold mining. By the 1960s, the family- largest centre-pivot irrigated alfalfa farms in Sudan
Administration from run business had moved into plastics and Styrofoam across 87,200 hectares of land in the Wad Hamid area
Georgetown University production. As Sudan’s economy developed in the under a 99-year renewable lease from the Sudanese
(Washington) and 1970s, Haggar created an advertising agency as well. government, strategically located seven kilometres
diplomas from INSEAD Haggar continued to develop its tobacco business in from the Nile River, 130km from Khartoum and
(Fontainebleau). He has the 1980s, and in the 1990s, when George A. Haggar 700 km from Port Sudan – the gateway to the target
played an important and Anthony A. Haggar joined the firm. This led to a markets of KSA, the UAE and China.
role in transitioning period of acquisitions and green field operations and
the family business to the expansion of the company into new fields. Energy: Dynamic International Oil Well Services
its present hybrid form, Today, thanks to an ambitious and diverse team and is Sudan’s leading national oilfield services
blending the people a caring, professional and high-performance culture, company, supplying solutions and integrated project
and social focus of a Haggar has expanded its operations from Sudan to South management that optimise drilling and production
family businesses with Sudan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. The performance for customers working in the oil and gas
the best practice and group focuses on building long term positions across industry. Founded in 2006, Dynamic offers multiple
discipline of a successful Agriculture (Value Add), energy and ICT, the sectors we services and solutions by specifically catering to the
multinational. Under his believe will provide the architecture and foundations for needs of the ever-demanding oil and gas exploration
leadership the group has and production industry.
rebalanced its portfolio, Renewable energy is increasingly becoming
divesting out of tobacco a recognised solution for Africa’s energy needs.
and pursuing a more Decentralised energy solutions are identified as
regional footprint. The one of the most important ways to achieve the UN
group is present in seven Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). Recognising
African countries and its potential for impact, renewable energy is becoming
continuously looking an integral component of Haggar’s energy strategy.
to grow, particularly
in agriculture, ICT: SUDASAT is the largest provider of VSAT
energy and ICT. services in Sudan, providing voice and data connectivity
to institutions, companies and individuals. SUDASAT
has 8 transponders on ARABSAT, Badr 6 providing
C-band coverage across Sudan and a customer
base that spans multinationals, telecom operators,
government organisations and development agencies.
Next year Sudasat will be launching dedicated Ka
SUDASAT – connecting coverage across Sudan to help meet the ever-growing
22 you where others can’t data needs of its customers.
 Dolphin was established in 2013 in Dubai as an
African communications carrier and specialises in
owning and managing residential buildings with furnished
flats to rent, that range from studios to larger apartments.
Our approach
wholesale capacity and internet bandwidth for carriers,
ISPs and enterprise customers. Dolphin aims to be a CSI: Commitment to sustainable development is an
continues to
driving force for the business community of West Africa
functioning as a catalyst in extending global reach, high
integral part of Haggar Group’s investment philosophy:
we believe businesses have responsibilities to society
be based on
quality connectivity and reliable levels of connectivity.
With its investment in the ACE Submarine cable,
that extend beyond their obligations to stockholders
and making a profit.
partnering
Dolphin offers full right of landing in Dakar, Accra and
Lagos covering 80 per cent of West Africa’s population.
To this end, 2.5 per cent of each operating company’s
net profit is spent on CSI initiatives and 16 per cent
with other
Industry: Established in the 1920s, Pasgianos Food and
of Haggar dividends are allocated to the Haggar
Foundation, which focuses on clean water and
like-minded
Beverages introduced the first bottled soft drinks to the
Sudanese market. In 1961, the Company production
education initiatives.
The Group strives to fully integrate social,
patient
plant was registered as a production facility with the
ministry of industry. In 1999, the company was acquired
environmental and governance issues into its strategic
plans and core business activities. The adopted CSI
sources of
by Haggar Group. Since its acquisition, the Company
has invested in capacity and continues to provide unique
values and standards across all business processes and
practices aim to mitigate any negative environmental
capital for
national flavours to the carbonated soft drink market.
Coldair Engineering Company has been operating
impact while enhancing social impact.
continued
since 1960. Coldair leads in refrigeration and its
products have become a symbol of trust in the hearts
Looking to the future: Beyond its strategic focus,
Haggar continues to develop its legacy industry
growth
and minds of Sudanese consumers, continuing to investments in Sudan while building a trading platform
broaden its product range to better serve the household to support and develop Africa facing trade opportunities.
needs of every Sudanese family. Our senior management continues to seek out
new projects, in defined areas and several potentially
Financial Services: Juba Insurance Company Ltd. was interesting opportunities are under review.
established in July 1984. Haggar bought a controlling Africa is a continent where growth, new technologies
stake in the company in 2010. and business models are merging to transform the
Haggar has a small stake in Ivory Bank, founded business environment.
in South Sudan where it is working to build its The private sector is a key catalyst in this and in Left: DIOWS - supporting
competencies and capabilities to secure a leading role Sudan this is no different. the development of Oil &
in the sector. At Haggar, we are focused on contributing to Gas in Sudan
Sudan’s growth and development in the hope of
Real Estate: SEDCO (Sanctuary Estate Development more equitable and sustainable benefit across a wider Right: PFB – Sudan’s
Company) is a real estate company founded in 2014, stakeholder base.  F national soft drink

23
 SUDAN

70 years of partnership
By ROBIN DAVIES
Country Director, Sudan, British Council

W
e established our first office in Sudan including in schools, universities, the professional skills
in January 1948. Since then, apart sector and higher education, beyond the capital to reach
from a seven-year absence from fragile states in Sudan, injecting 21st century skills into
1950 until 1957, we have maintained the classrooms, training teachers, updating curricula on a
a continuous presence in Khartoum. As the UK’s national scale, and supporting Government to transform
international cultural relations organisation, we steadily education systems. Partnering with local business,
expanded our presence further across Sudan, primarily including CTC, in a national innovation and enterprise
focusing on English language teaching but also running competition, we train young entrepreneurs in social
cultural centres and libraries. By the mid 1960s we had enterprise and business development skills. We offer the
established six offices across Sudan. In 1989 we reduced young people of Sudan the required English language skills
ROBIN DAVIES our footprint to our current premises in down town to improve their employability. We work closely with the
has degrees in Modern Khartoum, from where we continue to expand our Ministries of Education and Higher Education at federal
Languages, European impact, cost effectively, across the whole country. and state levels, providing the expertise and networks to
Literature and Over the last 70 years, through our work in arts improve the quality of teaching and learning across Sudan.
International Relations, and culture, education, English language, sport, Partnering with the Ministry of Higher Education,
and he has spent most entrepreneurship, civil society and youth development the British Council has conceived and introduced a new
of his working life in the we have been making a positive contribution to the programme to improve university students’ level of English
Security sector. Joining people, institutions, and governments of Sudan. We language – much needed as schools often fail to deliver to
the British Council in have changed lives by creating opportunities, building the required level for academic purposes. The four year
2009, and before taking connections and engendering trust, and in turn these course will soon be piloted in four Sudanese universities,
up the post as Country relationships have enriched British culture, and our and more than 300,000 university students will benefit.
Director Sudan in 2016, knowledge about this extraordinary country. Over the last two years the British Council has
he enjoyed appointments In 2018, we celebrate 70 years of the British rewritten the English language curriculum in Sudan.
in Brussels, Bangladesh Council’s work in Sudan in education, professional We have recrafted the suite of students’ English text
and Pakistan. He says, training programmes, and in developing cultural books, the teachers’ manuals and the trainers’ guides.
“Working in the Cultural links between our countries. We have refurbished our The interactive approach, the use of teaching aids
Relations sector in Khartoum office, which now offers a welcoming space and games, and the promotion of group learning and
Sudan is a very rich for all our customers and visitors, nine large, modern student involvement have all contributed to the added
experience. It is a classrooms for our students, and a comfortable working value that the British Council has brought to the
privilege and hugely environment for over 120 teachers and staff. partnership with the Ministry of Education. Funded
motivating working The British Council is expanding its work in education, by the World Bank, this programme will ensure that
with the Sudanese and all teachers will have been trained in delivering
International British the new curriculum.
Council staff here.” Finally, we run several networking
programmes for Sudan’s artists and creatives;
we are engaged in community and volunteering
programmes and, funded by the British
Council’s global Cultural Protection Fund, we
work closely with British and Sudanese partners
to digitally preserve, and make accessible to the
public, Sudan’s cultural history, and to refurbish
three museums in Sudan, including The Khalifa
House in Khartoum.
The cultural relationship between the UK and
Sudan has never been richer. It is a relationship
The British which aspires to ever greater friendly knowledge
24 Council team in Sudan exchange and understanding. F
SUDAN

COFFTEA: A Sudanese success story

By SIDDIG M. S. IDRIS
Chief Executive Officer, CoffTea

V
isitors to Sudan will quickly learn of the In 2011, to meet growing demand for its premium
importance of tea in daily life. If they have products, two new factories were built in Sudan and Kenya
enjoyed a refreshing brew then it’s very with a combined capacity of 35 million kilograms of tea,
likely to be have been blended by Cofftea, along with fully automated and computer-controlled
a company whose passion for quality has made it a blenders and coffee roasters, able to produce three
household name for more than four decades. million kilogrammes a year. Rigorous quality assurance
The origins of Cofftea date back to the mid-1950s, and control are applied at every stage in the process. The
when the current group Chairman, Mohamed Salih following year, a third factory was opened in Bahri, in
Idris, began trading, traveling throughout Sudan. In northern Khartoum. The company now has 17 brands.
1984, he set up Cofftea reflecting the company’s core Cofftea’s factories are ISO certified (ISO 22000 Food
SIDDIG M.S. IDRIS businesses of tea and coffee. Since then it has grown to Safety Management System and ISO 9001 Quality
is a graduate in business, become Sudan’s largest blender, distributor and packer management system) and are equipped with the latest
finance and economics of of the two beverages, supplying numerous sectors with machinery and equipment imported from Europe,
Leicester University. On a wide range of products. The company blends, packs Turkey, and India. These include testing laboratory
joining Cofftea Trading and distributes some 30 million kilograms of tea per equipment as well as fully automated blending
in Sudan he led the year and roasts, blends, packs and distributes around and packing machines. Most importantly, Cofftea
sales and marketing 20 million kilograms of coffee. implements and adheres to the highest hygiene and
team for seven years In 2003, the company set up the first specialised tea- working standards in its operations, not only to ensure
before becoming country packing factory in Khartoum, covering some 5,000 the safety of its products, but also a safe, clean, and
manager of Cofftea square meters, where it uses the finest Kenyan blends healthy working environment for its workforce.
Kenya. On returning to to produce its flagship Al Ghazaltain brand in loose and Cofftea is committed to sourcing its raw materials on a
Sudan he oversaw the teabag formats. Its teabag range includes classic black large scale while promoting sustainability. Some 90 per
application of advances tea, flavoured tea (cinnamon, cardamom, and mint), cent of plantations where Cofftea sources its tea are ISO
in the blending and green tea and hibiscus. 22000:2005 certified (green leaf reception, processing,
packaging of COFFTEA’s Cofftea has now repatriated the core blending packing and dispatch of black CTC tea). Similarly, its
products. During his process from Kenya to Sudan to ensure quality control. fair trade tea is Rain Forest Alliance certified.
tenure Cofftea grew from It employs more than 600 people directly, as well as
20 to 600 employees providing a livelihood for more than 60,000 tea and A commitment to the wider community
and has become one coffee growers, along with training and opportunities Aware of the leading role it plays in the country, Cofftea
of the top white sugar for development. The company prides itself on its engages with the communities it works with through a
importers in the world. committed and capable owner-managers. range of initiatives that include providing school students
He is also the Director throughout the country with bags,
of the Mohamed Salih notebooks and winter clothes, as well as
Idris Foundation. recognising the important role played by
many people in the fields of education,
sports and community service.
Cofftea co-sponsored Mashrouy for
the last three years 2015, 2016 and 2017,
which represents a set up in conjunction
with the Sudanese Young Businessmen
Association, the British Embassy and
the British Council in Khartoum. The
hit television programme has helped
identify and support young Sudanese
Iftar conversation at entrepreneurs and has attracted huge
sunset hosted by CoffTea interest from Sudanese business people,
during Ramadan some great ideas for new business  25
Cofftea Trading Co. Ltd
Sudan, Khartoum
P.O. Box: 3561 - Tel: 0024918718000 - Fax: 00249187188088
[Link] / E-mail: info@[Link]
SUDAN

 proposals, wonderful contestants and a huge following

for the presentations and selection process. It has
Friendship (CIPF) through the Sudanese-Kenyan
Friendship Association and the Kenyan Embassy in
Sudan has
showcased Sudan’s entrepreneurial culture, showing that
it can flourish if the economic environment allows
collaboration with the National Olympic Committee,
through the Sudanese Athletics Union, under
an entre-
it to and creating prosperity for all.
Cofftea also sponsors Chevening,
the auspices of the Presidency.
preneurial
the UK government’s global
scholarship programme that
Looking to the future
Cofftea has expanded its
culture that
30,000 mt
offers future leaders the
unique opportunity to
TEA blending, packing &
distribution per year
areas of activity in recent
years, and also trades and
will flourish if
study in the UK. These
scholarships are awarded to
500,000 mt
SUGAR trading &
10,000 mt
COFFEE roasting, blending,
distributes some 500,000
tons of sugar. It has a
the economic
environment
distribution per year packing & distribution per year
outstanding professionals to state-of-the-art refinery
pursue a one-year master’s with a capacity of 70,000
degree in any subject at any
UK university.
tons per annum of cooking
oil which will commission
allows it
The company also supports
the more than 8,000 tea ladies
500,000 mt
COMPOUND FEED
20,000 mt
OIL refining &
its production by mid of
2019. The company is also
to, creating
prosperity
distribution per year
nationwide, who represent the building a state of the art animal
best of Sudan’s strong entrepreneurial 200,000 mt
feed plant that will make it a major
spirit and have come to play a vital role
in the country’s economy and cultural life over
STRAW supplier, producing 500,000 tonnes of
compound feed and 200,000 tonnes of straw
for all
the last three decades. Many of these women come each year. By the end of 2019, Cofftea’s animal feed
from the lowest rungs of society – the immigrants plant will be the largest in the country, with a capacity of
and the displaced from regions in conflict. Cofftea has one million tons a year.
undertaken a range of initiatives to help formalise the Almost a year on from the lifting of US sanctions,
situation of Sudan’s tea ladies by providing kiosks and there is clearly a mood of optimism within the Sudanese
access to running water. business community, with an awareness that a turning
Further reflecting its commitment to Sudan’s tea ladies, point has been reached. Growing numbers of countries
in late 2017, U.S. Embassy staff in Khartoum attended are now looking closely at how to position themselves in
an Iftar, the evening meal with which Muslims end their Sudan, exploring opportunities and assessing potential
daily Ramadan fast at sunset, with tea ladies hosted by partners in what is a huge domestic market, as well as a Left:
Cofftea to share a meal and the Ramadan spirit in honour launch pad for investment and exports in the wider region. The pick of the tea
of some of Sudan’s hardest working businesswomen. Moreover, Cofftea is looking to expand its regional
Cofftea also co-sponsored the second International markets by targeting the East African markets as well as Right:
Peace Marathon in Khartoum in January this year Gulf markets in the first place. With a vision to explore The CoffTea family
organised by the Council for International People’s the opportunities in Europe through exports. F in Khartoum

27
 SUDAN

A quintessential ingredient
By AZHARI ELTIGANI ELSHEIKH HAMOUDA
Chief Executive Officer, Migana

F
ew people are probably aware that one of the Gum Arabic readily dissolves in water to form highly
most widely used products around the world concentrated solutions of relatively low viscosity, which
today is a resin that is still extracted by hand is a consequence of the gum’s compact structure. Being
from wild Acacia trees in Africa’s Sahel region, both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, Acacia Gum is
the vast swathe of savannah stretching from Somalia on perfectly suited as a stabiliser of colours and flavours
the Indian Ocean to Senegal on the Atlantic. held in emulsion.
Used for more than 4,000 years, Gum Arabic is an The Chinese and Japanese were already using acacia
ancient resource that is set to play an even bigger role gum for painting in 4,000 BC, while it also played an
across a growing range of industries. important role in Ancient Egypt 1,500 years later,
Gum Arabic is made from the hardened sap from applied as a pigment binder for paints in hieroglyphs.
AZHARI ELTIGANI two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia With the industrial revolution, acacia gum, by now
ELSHEIKH HAMOUDA seyal. The resinous liquid seeps out after the bark is cut known as Gum Arabic, was used for textiles, as well as
holds an MSc from the and thickens on contact with the air, forming a hard lithography, and as an ingredient in early photography.
University of Khartoum and glassy gum. This process is called “gummosis” and
and qualifications in usually lasts from three to eight weeks. Sudan produces the finest gum arabic
environmental and Also known as acacia gum, chaar gund and meska, A semi-arid zone species, the Acacia is drought resistant
developmental studies. this miracle product is not only perfectly safe for human and able to regenerate naturally from seeds or from
He is also currently consumption, but ongoing research has established copies. The densest areas of acacia forest are in central
studying for an MBA its many health and dietary benefits. Essentially, it Sudan, making the country the biggest producer and
with the University of is a stabilizer, a binder, an emulsifier or a viscosity- exporter of the best quality Gum Arabic, supplying up
Cumbria in partnership increasing agent, used not only in confectionery, soft to 80 per cent of annual world requirements. While
with the Robert Kennedy drinks, wine, liquor, and dietary fibre, but also for many processed food ingredients can provide flavour
College in Zurich. non-food products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, stability, Gum Arabic is a natural, sustainable, vegan
He worked with printing, ceramics, photosensitive chemicals, textiles, clean label product that promises to provide a viable
US-Aid and later the paper, ink, paints and adhesives. alternative to chemically produced ingredients.
Arab League in Tunis A complex mixture of polysaccharides and glyco- As an entrepreneur, I have worked for more than 25
before returning to proteins comprised mostly of galactose, arabinose, years in the Sudanese agricultural export sector and set
Sudan to establish a rhamnose, and glucuronic acid, Gum Arabic has up Migana Industries after the Sudanese government
company specialised its own E number: E414. It also contains a small liberalised the Gum Arabic sector. Migana is involved
in exporting Hibiscus, amount of protein: 18 different amino acids have been at every stage of production, from harvesting to export,
sesame and other identified in acacia senegal. based at its factory in Khartoum, where some 5,000
agricultural products. metric tonnes are processed. Migana has warehouses
He subsequently in El Obeid and Al Nuhud (both production areas
established Migana for Gum Arabic) where raw gum is received and
Industries in 2005, when then checked and graded. It is then transported to
the opportunity arose warehouses in Soba, Khartoum for analysis in the
with the liberalisation company’s laboratories. From there it is loaded into
of the sector in Sudan. containers for export.
Today Migana is one Migana has a 50 hectare Acacia nursery and research
of the world’s most centre in Al Nuhud (south of Khartoum). This project,
important suppliers launched eight months ago in collaboration with the
of Gum Arabic to University of Cumbria, is the only project of its kind
international companies. in Sudan.
With a view to expanding our presence in the United
Kingdom, we have a strategic agreement with Juniper
Global Ltd, a UK based agri-trading company that was
28 Exude of gum arabic formed in 2010, and which functions as the sole marketing
and sales arm of Migana, Our presence in the United
Kingdom for the past eight years facilitates and covers
In Sudan, Gum Arabic creates an important value
chain that includes tree cultivation, harvesting, drying,
We are now
the issuing of contracts, banking and logistics. Our UK-
based managing director, Rimon Yousif, has built Juniper
cleaning, sorting, grading, transportation, storage,
processing, marketing and industrial application.
building solid
into a leading supplier of natural agricultural products,
specialising in the export of Gum Arabic and senna pods
Migana works with local suppliers to provide natural and
safe products that are ethically sourced, as well as ensuring
relationships
to international markets. Through his efforts Juniper
enjoys partnerships and joint ventures at both ends of
full traceability. In the United Kingdom, through Juniper
Global Ltd, there is close liaison with customers to supply
with local,
the supply chain – from direct reach to farmland and
agricultural projects and operations in Sudan to global
high quality products consistently and continual R&D to
benefit our customers from ongoing improvements. We
regional and
manufacturers on an international platform.
Juniper’s knowledgeable and professional management
always operate as an ethical and responsible organisation
and our relationship with our distributors is crucial and
international
team help inspire, guide and problem-solve for our
customers and abide by ISO standards while implementing
the aim is to establish long-term, strategic partnerships
with both our suppliers and customers.
businesses
an active Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
programme. In order to ensure CSR values are visible
The transformation of Gum Arabic production into
more income-generating activities can not only promote
to create and
in our supply chain, we have opened dialogue with our
suppliers to ensure CSR compliance and implementation,
economic development through higher incomes, but also
to secure rural livelihoods, empower vulnerable groups,
stimulate
especially in the areas of labour standards, environment
and anti-corruption. We work with innovative, competent
including women, and promote synergies with natural
resource management and climate change mitigation.
opportunities
and participatory partners, who contribute effectively to
the strength of our supply chain.
Migana promotes the protection of gum trees
through longer concession rights, which in turn
for
We are now building solid relationships with local,
regional and international businesses to create and
encourages concession holders to protect trees and
plant new ones. The company works to prevent over-
cooperation
stimulate opportunities for cooperation and investment
that involve constructing a global integrated industrial
harvesting and improper wounding of gum trees by
applying best practices. Proper tapping can have a
and
structure for Gum Arabic processing to meet increasing
international demand. Migana is now among the leading
positive effect on the long-term productivity of trees.
Demand for acacia gum is steadily increasing in
investment
Sudanese companies in the sector and is the main Europe: in the past five years, demand has grown Left:
approved supplier for most international importers. by an estimated 2.5 per cent annually. Germany, the Among the multiple
United Kingdom and Italy already import considerable uses of the sap of the
A commitment to development amounts of acacia gum, but do so from other European Acacia tree: stabiliser,
Gum Arabic also has the power to drive development countries. France has established itself as an important binder, emulsifier
in the 19 African producer nations, already providing intermediary and exports two-thirds of all processed Gum
a living to at least 10 million people. A promising Arabic, although growing numbers of manufacturers in Right:
commodity for producing countries, it has the potential the United Kingdom are seeing the benefits of buying Three generations of
to generate foreign exchange, promote sustainable through local suppliers that purchase the finished product the Elsheikh Hamouda
agriculture and forestry, ensure food security and in powder form direct from Sudanese companies such as family are now
combat desertification and climate change. Migana Industries.  F involved in Migana

29
 Saleh Abdelrahmen
Yagoub Co. Ltd.

Salih Abdelrahman Yagoub Co. Ltd (SAY) is one

of Sudan’s largest and oldest conglomerates with
over half a century of experience and interests in
construction, trading, retail, manufacturing and the
service sector.
Our group of companies include Afritex in the gum
arabic sector, Samil Industrial in the nutritional
products sector (especially those used to treat
malnutrition), Darfood in the peanut sector
(uniquely contributing to the development of
Darfur) and Al-Nakheel (which own Sudan’s first
export graded facility for organic grass fed meat).
We already proudly work with international
Yagoub Group
partners Nutrisethas
andmanaged to be one of and
Onyx Développement
the business groups in Sudan
are dedicated to the developmentsince decades.
of Sudan
The core of this success has always lied in
to winning corporate culture that promotes
growth and fosters innovation, and a
customer-driven strategy, that is guided by
quality, creative solutions, and a never-ending
The better
search for Nutriset ways
Group, to
based in Normandy
serve (France),
our clients.
is the association of group of companies, with a
Members main
ofofSAYobjective
Group to make quality food for all. This is
Membersspearheaded
SAY Group
by Nutriset, the pioneer and world
leader in the design, production and distribution
of agri-food products against malnutrition, and
Onyx Développement, which supports an agro-
industry in the countries of the South.

Together, they enable the Nutriset Group

to combine complementary and innovative
objectives in the fields of nutrition, food and
agri-food, from basic research to scaling-up of
an industrial production, including financial and
societal expertise.

Salih Abdelrahman Yagoub Co. Ltd

47 Bequwan St. House #1 Khartoum (3)
Tel. +249 183-471658 / 59

[Link]
SUDAN

Driving Darfur’s development

By HISHAM SALIH A. YAGOUB
Deputy Chairman, Salih Yagoub Group (SAY)

O
ne of Sudan’s largest conglomerates, social and economic development on their countries
the Salih Yagoub Group (SAY) was and to the fight against malnutrition.
founded by leading businessman and Thanks to the Yagoub family’s experience in the
philanthropist, and current Chairman, agri-food sector, a state-of-the-art production unit
Salih Abdelrahman Yagoub. The group is family in Khartoum was soon set up that is now able to
owned and led by the Chairman with the assistance of meet most of the needs in Sudan and neighbouring
his younger sons Mohamed and Omer Salih A. Yagoub, countries for RUTF. Now, Samil’s world-class quality
myself, and a dedicated team of experts. and production standards is helping improve Sudanese
The core businesses of SAY comprises the following: peanut production and thus create better access to the
our gum arabica division and the Afritec Ingredients export market for other producers.
HISHAM S. A. YAGOUB Factory for gum arabica ingredients. This is a joint
holds a Bachelor of venture with Nexira International of France. Then, there Darfood: Driving development in Darfur
Science in Business is Darfood, in the peanut sector and finally our Al Nakheel Leveraging our core competencies in the sector of
Administration from meat factory which is Sudan’s first export graded facility malnutrition products and groundnuts processing,
the University of for the processing of organic grass fed meat. Finally there Darfood was established as a joint venture with Onyx
Evansville, Indiana. He is Samil which is a joint venture set up in 2011 with French Dèveloppement. The Darfood Company Limited
joined Yagoub Group in company Onyx Dèveloppement, part of the Nutriset is also supported by RVO, the Dutch cooperation
1992 and during a long Group, to develop malnutrition solutions for young agency, which has supplied €750,000 for the purchase
career was responsible children, among them, Plumpy’Nut and Plumpy’Sup, of a peanut sorting line unit.
for modernising which are now being used Since 2017, Darfood has been producing high-
group companies and in several developing quality peanut products at a newly built mill in El
introducing international countries, with Daen, in the east of
standards, especially special emphasis on Darfur province.
for the Afritec, Samil, the needs of Sudan The plant has
Darfood and Al Nakhel and neighbouring been located
factories. He currently African nations. i n S u d a n ’s
serves as the Deputy main peanut
Chairman and the Samil growing area,
Managing Director Plumpy’Nut is a Ready to Use which produces
of SAY Co, as well as Theraputic Food (RUTF) with between
Managing Director of similar nutritional value to F-100 150,000 to 200,000 tons
two sister companies milk for nutritional rehabilitation of children with annually, and is providing a major
(Afritec Ingredients and severe acute malnutrition. Plumpy’Sup is a Ready to boost to the local economy, creating around 200 jobs in
Samil Industries) which Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) developed for the the province. The plant has a daily production capacity
are partnerships with treatment of moderate acute malnutrition in children of 150 tonnes.
international investors. aged six months or more. It can also be used to prevent SAY was already involved in the groundnut sector
severe malnutrition, particularly with children that in Darfur, procuring, distributing, and trading, which
have recently completed therapeutic feeding programs. gave it a thorough knowledge of the Darfuri peanut
These two products are pastes that need neither market and a good working relationship with local
preparation or dilution for consumption. Both are producers. Darfood will not only guarantee the right
produced for the PlumpyField network of independent quality for its partners and Samil, but also reduce
producers that manufacture ready-to-use nutritional transportation costs, as well as keeping processing value
solutions right in the countries where they are most within the region. SAY has also been active in Darfur
needed. These products are used in the treatment for many years, producing gum arabica. Some of the
and prevention of malnutrition, and comply with the producers who now supply SAY with gum arabica are
highest international standards on quality. By sourcing also peanut growers that have been working with the
locally, these members sustainably contribute to the company over the years.  31
 SUDAN

SAY is helping  Cooperation agreements have already been signed

with local agricultural cooperatives, ensuring the
huge potential to produce high quality peanuts for
the international market, as well as the possibility of
meet the producers to obtain part of their income. Training
and assistance will also be provided to producers to
developing a local confectionary industry, and also
to produce RUTF due to unreliable supplies of high
challenge of strengthen their involvement.
Peanuts are bought from farmers’ cooperatives,
graded premium.
Furthermore, SAY recognised that Sudan was not
reconstruction shelled and sorted and then processed at the Darfood
Edible Oils Mill to make Plumpy’Nut.
playing a significant role in the international markets
for HPS (Hand Picked Selected Peanuts) nor in the
and local Oil produced at the plant is sold to Sudanese food
producers or on the international markets. The waste
local market for this product, despite being one of the
main peanuts producers in the world.
development products left after raw materials processing are used to
make peanut cake, which is sold as animal feed, while
This was because Darfur’s peanuts processing sector
was poorly developed and under-resourced, which
in a region shells are compressed and sold as bio-mass energy
or used as fuel to power the plant, in line with the
affected all stakeholders in the value chain.
Until now, local producers were obliged to send their
with a history company’s environment policy. peanuts to Khartoum for processing, thus, the Darfood
project supports the growth of businesses in the food
of conflict Attracting investment to Darfur
By locating in Darfur, SAY is helping meet the
production chain, both upstream and downstream.
SAY highlights the socio-economic advantages of
challenge of reconstruction and local development in the Darfood project in directly improving the lives of
a region with a history of conflict, but that is now set thousands of local farmers and households in Darfur,
to take advantage of its huge agricultural potential. as well as its wider impact on the development of the
This industrial initiative includes the whole sector, region. The sorting facility will contribute directly and
from supporting the growers, who have started to indirectly to the creation of jobs for young Darfuris,
be trained by Darfood and with whom cooperation particularly women, while stimulating the production
agreements have been set up, to the conversion of of quality groundnuts and introducing modern tools
this agricultural raw material in all its forms. The and methods to the farming there.
implementation of this processing unit will support At the same time, local producers will benefit from
local development and enhance the value of this professional assistance and training programs being
agricultural network, while constantly striving for facilitated by the project’s professional specialists to
quality. Throughout the process, from harvesting to rural communities, as well as securing new markets for
Left: transformation, special care will be taken to respect their produce.
An ultra-modern facility high-quality production standards. SAY hopes the creation of the first modern agro-
The Darfood project came about through SAY’s food processing facility will send out a signal and
Right: on-the-ground daily experience of the social and encourage other private investors to set up large scale
Combatting malnutrition economic cost to the region of not having exploited its projects in the region.  F

32
 SUDAN

Milestone with Al Salam Rotana

By ADNAN DAYOUB
General Manager, Al Salam Rotana Khartoum

H
aving been in the hotel industry kinds of occasions and meetings. It also has a Bodylines
for 28 years, I have experienced diverse Fitness & Wellness Club which offers a fully equipped
situations in handling various hotels gym, outdoor swimming pool, steam and sauna rooms,
but the most memorable and in addition to a variety of massages to choose from.
challenging one is my journey with the Al Salam During my time as General Manager at the Al
Rotana Hotel Khartoum. Salam Rotana Khartoum, I have managed to maintain
Al Salam Rotana Khartoum was opened in 2007 the highest standards and continue develop the
and is located just a few minutes from Khartoum property and the skills of all its staff. We continue
International Airport along a stretch of Africa Road, seeking and hiring the very best local talent and to
a short drive from downtown Khartoum and within fostering and training them and their skills. As a
ADNAN DAYOUB walking distance of Afra Mall, Khartoum’s largest result of this time and investment we have gained a
holds a Masters Degree shopping mall. The hotel is perfectly situated for both very positive reputation in the local market which
in French, English and business and leisure. led us to be the number one hotel in Khartoum and
Arabic simultaneous The hotel epitomises the exceptional hospitality the preferred hotel of our valued guests, partners and
translation from the of Sudan, and breath-taking luxury featuring 233 media partners.
University of Damascus rooms and suites elegantly designed with the comfort We pride ourselves in providing a family atmosphere
and hospitality of the guests in mind. The hotel is supported by an for our staff ensuring that the time they spend with
management from excellent array of services and fitted with the latest in Rotana will be valuable to their careers and personal
the GLION Institute in sophisticated equipment. development. We particularly welcome their
Switzerland. He began Al Salam Rotana has a variety of facilities making suggestion in providing a better experience for our
his career working with it the perfect place both for business and leisure. The guests. Different programs and activities are executed
Intercontinental Hotels hotel offers two distinctive food and beverage venues to develop leadership and teamwork and increases
from 1997 to 2003 and including the Al Nuba Restaurant and the City Café. cooperation between staff regardless of their position.
Millennium Hotels & In addition to a gifts shop and business center, the hotel I have always believed that our success comes from
Resorts from 2003 to offers a selection of meeting spaces, boardrooms and a the very personalised services we render to our valued
2010 before joining ballroom, all with pre-function areas, suitable for all guests. It is the attention to detail and the smile on
Rotana Hotels. Under
his guidance the Rotana
Khartoum won Hotel
of the Year in 2015
amongst Rotana Hotels
and Sudan’s Leading
Hotel accolade for 2016
and 2017 from the World
Travel Awards.

Perfect for both

34 business and leisure
our faces that makes the difference during our daily
operations and interaction with our external and
continuously monitoring, responding and attentive to
all guest feedback and in particular we have created
The reason
internal guests.
Our commitment to developing tourism in Sudan
positive engagement with our social media accounts.
We have chosen to fully embrace delivering our
behind our
has led us to adapting our services and products to
attract more travellers. We are participating willingly
Rotana brand promise which is “Treasured Time”,
and this Treasured Time extends to our guest guests,
success is
in some of the active programs of the Ministry of
Tourism which allows us gain exposure for our hotel. It
owners, partners and colleagues. Part of this mean
always keeping my door open to our exceptional
simple, we
also highlights the good relationship we have with the
officials responsible for the development of tourism.
team, putting a smile on my face while ensuring the
daily operations are smoothly. The key points for
personally
On the other hand we have been recognised as
the Sudan’s Leading Hotel (2016 and 2017) for
success and adaptation in the hospitality industry
are communication, productivity and outstanding
take care of
two consecutive years and Sudan’s Leading Hotel
Suite (2014 & 2015) also for 2 consecutive years
problem solving skills. In addition to being able to
work in a multi-cultural environment which will
our valued
by the World Travel Awards. Al Salam Rotana is guarantee reaching the ultimate goal of success. F
guests and
colleagues

Top: Ultimate wellness

at the Al Salam Rotana
state of the art spa

Bottom Left: When it

comes to conferences
and banqueting,
nothing else can come
close to our ballrooms
and meeting rooms

Bottom Right: Several

times winner of Best
Hotel in Sudan, perfect
for business and leisure

35
 SUDAN

Khartoum’s luxury address

By BERNARD MERCIER
General Manager, Corinthia Hotel Khartoum

L
Text to ocated in the heart of Khartoum, the Burj
Al-Fateh, better known outside Sudan as the
the skyline of the Sudanese capital. Opened in 2008
and the tallest hotel in the city, the Corinthia Hotel
go here Corinthia Hotel Khartoum, has established
itself as the capital’s most luxurious hotel, an
Khartoum has established itself not just as one of
the city’s most iconic buildings, but a benchmark for
architectural masterpiece of steel and glass that adds excellence. The complex spreads over 45,000 square
new elegance to the city. meters, incorporating the latest in leisure and business
A reflection of the growing success of Sudan’s technology, luxury accommodations and unrivalled
economy, the hotel sits amid beautifully tended gardens, services and facilities, redefining the luxury hotel
sparkling miniature lakes and fountains, providing category from the ground up to its 18th floor.
travellers with an oasis of calm in what can be a tiring A ten minute drive from the capital’s airport, the
BERNARD MERCIER and hectic city. The hotel’s eye-catching architecture, hotel is within walking distance of the National
is a graduate of the Hotel paired with its one-of-a-kind accommodation and Museum of Sudan and barely a mile from many of
School of Lausanne, unmatched service and attention to detail have earned Khartoum’s landmark buildings and historic sites.
Switzerland, and it a reputation with guests from the region and around
began his career with the world, whether on business, enjoying a weekend Luxurious rooms
Intercontinental Hotels getaway, or as the starting point for a longer trip to The Corinthia Hotel Khartoum has 230 modern,
in South America before discover the many wonders of Sudan. luxurious and spacious air-conditioned rooms.
moving to Sheraton in Overlooking Tuti island, where the Blue and White Luxurious Deluxe City and Nile View rooms offer
that region and Australia. Nile converge, this elegant, blue and white five-star beautiful views and exceptional comfort and peace to
He subsequently worked architectural gem brings to mind a twin sail. The every guest. Our Deluxe Nile View offers breath-taking
with a variety of major hotel’s rooms and suites, each offer unparalleled vistas of the magnificent Blue Nile, while a Deluxe City
hotel groups including panoramic views of Khartoum as well as the River Nile, View gives a stunning view of Khartoum’s cosmopolitan
Tivoli in Brazil, LTI in while cutting-edge automation systems and business heart. Available as both Queen and Twin, each room
Germany and Hilton in facilities provide the perfect business environment, comes complete with all the luxuries you’d expect from
the Philippines rising to meeting the highest standards. a grand, five-star hotel. These include a two-seater sofa
the rank of area manger. Part of the Corinthia Group’s collection of five-star bed, Wi-Fi access, TV with a large selection of English
After a successful career luxury hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta and Arabic channels, a spacious working area and a mini
with Kempinski he in 1962, since when it has expanded its presence to bar with tea and coffee making facilities.
joined Corinthia Hotels leading destinations such as London, Prague, Lisbon Similarly, the handsome, spacious Executive Club
in 2016 to manage and and St. Petersburg, the Hotel Khartoum has changed rooms offer beautiful views and provide a comfortable
develop its landmark retreat at the end of a busy day in the
property in Khartoum. Sudanese capital. In addition, Executive
Room guests are offered complimentary
transport from the airport to the hotel
on arrival and are granted access to the
Executive Club Lounge where they can
enjoy breakfast while watching the sun
rise over the Nile or sample evening
refreshments as it sets, bathing the view
in red and gold.
As well as providing greater space, the
Ministerial Suites offer a range of luxury
amenities such as a king-size bed, marble
bathrooms and jacuzzi, an expansive
An executive room living area, dining table and working desk
of the Corinthia and a two-seater sofa. Ministerial Suite
36 Hotel in Khartoum guests are offered complimentary airport

FIRST
pickup to the hotel on arrival and also enjoy access to
the Executive Lounge with complimentary breakfast
organise every aspect of the big day. From flowers and
decorations to the perfect menu, no detail is overlooked
The Corinthia
and refreshments, along with many other benefits.
The Presidential Suite is the largest hotel
in the quest to create a truly fairy-tale wedding.
The total capacity of our indoor function areas
Hotel
accommodation in Sudan and offers the ultimate
experience in luxury. The Presidential Suite features two
is 1,000 people. Special outdoor events can be
accommodated in our lobby terrace overlooking the
Khartoum has
separate bedrooms, one with a luxurious king-size bed and
marble bathroom with large jacuzzi and massage shower
garden and Nile. We offer ample free, secure self- and
valet parking. The Corinthia promise is a unique,
established
and another with twin beds. Guests can relax and watch a
film on a 55” flat screen TV, get some work done or enjoy
refreshing approach to organising the frequent
meetings, incentives and conferences that keep all
itself as the
freshly-brewed tea while taking in the spectacular views.
Equally, they can host up to eight guests for lunch and
modern businesses thriving. In a nutshell, it’s about
bringing warm welcomes, inspired cuisine and world-
capital’s most
dinner or hold meetings in the en-suite office, equipped
with the latest technology and internet connection. No
class service to each of your events. luxurious
detail has been overlooked in creating our signature
statement of modern luxury and comfort.
Spa and sports
A haven of wellness and a place to relax, the Sabratha Spa
hotel, a
Dining in the hotel
and Fitness centre features a large and fully equipped
state of the art gym, an indoor swimming pool, saunas,
masterpiece
Dining options include the Mugran Restaurant located
on the 16th Floor, with spectacular views of the White
jacuzzi, steam rooms, massages, hairdressers, squash and
tennis courts, and a traditional Turkish bath (Hammam).
of steel and
and Blue Nile. Light and airy – and blessed with
panoramic views – it serves breakfast, brunch, lunch
Separate sauna and steam rooms are available for ladies
and gentlemen. The spa director and his team extend
glass that
and dinner, with a daily changing buffet menu with
specialties from around the world.
an array of services through a wide selection of tailor
made programs. The Spa has earned a unique reputation
adds new
Situated on the 18th floor, the Rickshaw is the city’s
best restaurant. It offers an evening menu that takes in
in the city and is sought by the most discerning clients
looking for the ultimate in relaxation and well-being.
elegance to
the best of Asian cuisine, with influences from China,
Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
This is a place where cultures are respected and catered
for by dedicated staff. All beauty and health facilities are
the city
Le Grill Restaurant offers wide range of mouth- separate for ladies and gentlemen and with dedicated
watering snacks and meals in a cosy atmosphere, times at the indoor pool and jacuzzi for ladies.
whilst watching daily sports events on the big screens. The hotel sits within a secure complex that include
Light meals can be enjoyed at the outdoor area African a range of shops and services such as Egyptair, Qatar
Garden in a lush, green and exotic surrounding. Airways, Dal Rent a Car and serviced offices.
The Nile River café and Café Khartoum are the Despite the hotel’s size, visitors often comment
perfect setting for a relaxed meeting or other events, on how they are made to feel part of a large family The Mugran Restaurant
featuring freshly made snacks, salads and light meals, by the friendly and attentive staff. The Corinthia with views of Sunut
along with local drinks and juices. Hotel Khartoum is the place to be when visiting Forest, and the
The hotel provides additional services such as 24 Khartoum, Sudan. F White and Blue Nile
hour room service, laundry and dry cleaning as well a
business centre.

Meetings, events and weddings

The Corinthia Hotel Khartoum offers 10 meeting
rooms ranging in size from the 36 m2 Boardroom to
the 900 square metre Lebdah Ballroom, supported by
a business centre providing ideal venues for a variety
of events from an exclusive board meeting to larger
corporate gatherings, product presentations, fairs or
unforgettable wedding and parties.
With a setting that can only be described as magical,
the Corinthia Hotel Khartoum has set new standards
for elegant weddings and honeymoons. Whether you
dream of an intimate gathering of family and friends
or long for a lavish, traditional Sudanese reception, the
dedicated wedding planners will be delighted to help 37

FIRST
 SUDAN

Investigating ancient Sudan

Interview with NEAL SPENCER
Keeper of the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, The British Museum

Could you give an overview of the relationship provide context and understanding for our collection.
between the British Museum and Sudan? We currently run three projects: excavating the
Important antiquities from Sudan have been in the pharaonic town of Amara West, the great urban centre
collection, and on display, since 1835. Two monumental of Kawa, and a joint Sudanese-British Museum mission
pink granite lions were brought back for Lord Prudhoe at Dangeil, a Meroitic temple, urban and cemetery site.
from Gebel Barkal, one of the main temple sites near So we are excavating across three different millennia of
the fourth cataract on the Nile in Northern Sudan. Sudanese history. With modern, scientific, archaeology
These statues originally came from Soleb, a temple we can analyse plant remains, animal bones, geo-
built in the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep chemical residues and pigment remains to understand
III around 1370BCE. what life was like in these cities. The study of skeletal
NEAL SPENCER Today, our collection spans the whole of Sudanese remains informs us about ancient disease, demographics
holds a PhD from the history, amounting to around 10,000 objects from deep and migration. Archaeology is no longer about finding
University of Cambridge prehistory to the present day. The collection mostly comes objects, it’s about reconstructing past lives.
on pharaonic temple from Northern Sudan, in an area that is often referred to
construction, and has as Nubia, along the banks of the Nile river. The other And how did you choose your excavation location?
worked at the British regions have either not received much archaeological I chose Amara West in 2008 because I was very interested
Museum since 2000. attention, or have environmental conditions not in the ancient relationship between Egypt and Nubia.
Having worked at many conducive to preservation: less arid, more moisture and One of the best-preserved ancient towns anywhere in the
sites in Egypt since rain. This collection includes human skeletons from Jebel Nile Valley, 700km north of Khartoum on the west bank
1997, and in Sudan since Sahaba, the earliest organised cemetery in the world, with of the Nile, it is a place where you can walk down ancient
2004 (on the Merowe evidence for inter-human violence. Alongside some of the streets, into houses, through doorways and up staircases.
Dam Archaeological earliest pottery in Africa, pharaonic antiquities, objects We are interested in the cultural entanglement of Egypt
Salvage Campaign), he from the Monumental remains of the ancient city of and Nubia: the sharing of ideas, technologies and beliefs,
instigated a new research Kerma kingdoms and 20th century postage stamps. moving away from a simple model of conqueror and
project at the site of concquered. While recognising the conflicts, exploitation
Amara West in 2008. He When did formal archaeological excavation begin and violence also occurred. The town was built around
also set up the Museum’s in the region? 1300BC and founded in the reign of Seti I, father of
International Training In Northern Sudan, scientific excavations began in the Rameses the Great. It built as a new centre to control
Programme, which early part of the 20th Century. The British Museum Kush, the ancient Egyptian word for southern Nubia.
has created a global began its own excavations in the early 1990s, seeking to One of the major Egyptian interests in this region was the
network of museum abundant natural resources – particularly gold. The
curators and heritage hills in Northern Sudan have large gold deposits:
professionals, including gold was a very important part of the elite world of
Sudanese specialists. temples and royal patronage back in Egypt.
Photo: British Museum Amara West Research Project

Can you explain the historical context of the

various cultures of Ancient Nubia?
Nubia and Northern Sudan is an area with a lot
of cultural variety. In the early 20th Century, the
different styles of archaeological assemblages –
the different types of pottery and objects – were
grouped into cultures. For example, in the third
and second millennium BCE, we have the A- and
Revealing a faience C-groups. None of these cultures left behind
vessel in a burial writing – they weren’t societies that had scripts
chamber of tomb – so we don’t know their ancient names. But you
38 G244 at Amara West also have other groups, related particularly to the
deserts and nomadism. The boundaries between these
groups were not fixed and they may not have been states
being used as a black colour for objects in the tombs, so it
may have had ritual associations. That’s just one example
The study
the way we think of them today. Later, we see the rise
of the great kingdom centred around the city of Kerma,
of the scientific streams of work we are undertaking.
of skeletal
which reached its golden age around 1700-1500 BCE,
when military raids were made into Egypt. The Kerma
How do archaeologists engage with local people?
We have been focusing very much, with our Sudanese
remains
kingdom was finally defeated by the Egyptian armies
around 1450BCE and that ushered in pharaonic rule
colleagues, on working with the local community.
Thus we have been producing books, in Arabic, for
informs us
over that part of Northern Sudan. A series of Egyptian
towns and temples were built at this time. Egyptian rule
distribution to the local schools and villages and we
run sessions in the schools. For example, one book
about ancient
over Nubia ended in 1070BCE, which was followed
by the rise of the next great Nubian power, which was
is aimed at capturing knowledge about the region’s
traditional farming techniques that are dying out in
disease,
based at Napata. Another powerful kingdom, its kings
would rule over Egypt and northern Sudan, and fight
the age of mechanised agriculture. We also produced
podcasts – 70 per cent of the people in the villages
demographics
wars against Assyria in the Levant. That was followed
by the Meroitic Kingdom, based at Meroe, famous for
near the site have phones with internet so these allow
a wider audience to learn about the ancient sites and
and migration.
the pyramids, and thereafter Christian kingdoms and
eventually political Islam.
archaeological heritage. These have been produced
in English, Arabic and Nubian. Nubian is the local
Archaeology
The British Museum is also assisting in the develop-
language, which is not written anymore, so digital
technology provides a great way of engaging local
is no longer
ment of Sudan’s domestic archaeological capability.
What are the current highlights of your projects?
communities through this endangered language.
We are constantly interested in questions of cultural
about finding
We have just finished a project to build the first
bioarchaeology laboratory in Sudan, which will be
exchange and the movement of ideas, people, goods
and religion. With the British Museum having a
objects,
opening in February 2019, in collaboration with the
National Corporation of Antiquities & Museums
collection of nearly 8 million objects we can ask a lot
of questions about the connections between cultures.
it’s about
(Sudan). Bio-archaeology is the study of human, animal
and plant remains to reconstruct everything from diet, It seems that many museums and collections still
reconstructing
to health, to demographics as well as genetic profiles
and migration. In Sudan, there is a very good range of
overlook the importance of the ancient Nubian
cultures – do you find that this is the case? past lives
preserved ancient cemeteries and when you excavate Museums have to reflect the contents of their
these you find the human remains of people, mainly collections and what the most important and famous
skeletons but sometimes mummified. Traditionally, objects are. In our case, we renamed our department
these remains have been exported for study, to places from Egyptian Antiquities to the Department of
like the British Museum. Over the last ten years, we Ancient Egypt and Sudan in 2001 to reflect the
have trained the first bioarchaeologist in Sudan and importance of the Sudanese collection we have here.
now built this facility, enabling our Sudanese colleagues I think our gallery on Nubia was the first dedicated Monumental remains of
to store and study excavated human remains. Nubian gallery anywhere in the world.  F the ancient city of Kerma

Are you not also working on a project regarding

the science of colour?
One of the things we found at Amara West was finds
related to the making and preparing of pigments.
When you visit the archaeological site today it is very
brown – mud brick and sand – but many of the walls
and objects must have originally have been painted. We
also found raw lumps of pigment: Charcoal, Egyptian
blue, red ochre, yellow ochre, gypsum, bitumen, etc.
We also found broken pieces of pottery that had been
used as mixing palettes by the artists and grinding stones
for grinding pigment. With one of my colleagues we
Photo: Derek Welsby

ran a project to analyse how the pigments were made,

what binders were being used and then how it was being
applied in different places. For instance, we found that
bitumen, a resinous substance from the Dead Sea, was 39
 SUDAN

At the tipping point

By JOHANNA ZULETA
Report Editor and Special Advisor, FIRST

L
et me take you through the highlights of internationally as Sudan pushes forwards. The British
being a newcomer in Sudan. I reached habit of teatime is still strong in Sudan and if you try
Khartoum on my birthday and this arrival the Hibiscus tea from Cofftea you will want it for life. I
became a present in itself. The journey can’t wait for them to distribute it in London.
that then unfolded has enriched my life and I have The Sudanese hospitality is as much a pleasure
experienced many firsts in Sudan. This was my first for the visitor as it is a code of honour for the host.
time in Africa and the first time I lectured as a guest Also a national sense of discretion is evident in this
at a University. My lecture took place at al-Ahfad report. The biggest contributors to society in these
University, which was the first female university in the pages wanted to either tone down their good deeds
country and was initially established in 1907 as a school or not to mention them at all. They did not want to
JOHANNA ZULETA by the founder Babiker Badri. promote their own generosity but instead to focus on
is a Special Advisor to The crafts in Sudan are exquisite and I relished my the positive changes taking place in Sudan.
FIRST. She is a connector time at the Omdurman Market. It was also the first time The Pyramids in Meroe are older than the Egyptian
acting between the I attended a film festival hosted in the middle of a bridge, Pyramids and there is a deep past to explore in Sudan.
corporate world, the first time I crossed the dessert, the first time I rode a Contemporary culture is thriving and one of the
international politics camel (nothing quite prepares you for the vertigo!) and distinguished contemporary figures perhaps its most
and the arts. Founder I learnt how to watch for the signs of a sand storm. By celebrated citizen worldwide is the artist Ibrahim El-
of La Zuleta, a creative the time I was back in London, I had undoubtedly fallen Salahi (1930). He has major exhibitions under his belt
solutions agency. She has in love with Sudan, and began planning my return trip. at the Tate Modern, Ashmolean Museum and Moma
lived in Colombia, the I was born in Colombia in the 1980s and I came to among others. And in literature, you ought to read the
USA, Greece and France, see that Sudan and Colombia have many significant multi award winning author Leila Aboulela.
and has been based parallels. Sudan needs strong advocates to carry the Now is a very exciting moment in Sudanese history. It
in London since 2002. torch and to push forward significant shifts in how is the beginning of a new phase where the country will
Johanna has developed Sudan is perceived globally so that a wider story can be stabilising commercial relationships with the global
projects in collaboration be told. When I took part in the Sudanese coffee markets. The one thing I can vouch for, after what I’ve
with some of the ceremonies I always asked for the extra spice which is seen and from the selective industry leaders I have met,
UK’s leading cultural a local secret. The coffee was then served to me in clay who have built great generation-to-generation family
institutions, such as pots and it came with a delicious kick of cardamom. businesses, is that they have very deep roots and set very
the Tate, Barbican, This enchanting coffee should be appreciated solid grounds for the future. F

Southbank Centre and

the British Council.

Left:
Report Editor, Johanna
Zuleta and visionary
modernist Ibrahim
El-Salahi, at the opening
of his exhibition “By
his will we teach birds
how to fly” in London

Right:
The Sudan National
Museum, established
40 in 1971 in Khartoum
MIGANA
Sudan is the world’s largest producer of Gum Arabic, a natural,
sustainable, vegan, clean-label product that promises to provide a
viable alternative to chemically produced ingredients.

Migana Industries is the leading Sudanese private company in the

sector and is the approved supplier for many international importers
and manufacturers.

Our UK-based sister company, Juniper Global Ltd, was established

in the UK in 2010 and is looking for further partners to develop this
incredible produce.

Juniper Global Ltd

Rimon Yousif
Managing Director
Juniper Global Ltd
First Floor, 32-34 High Street
Ringwood BH24 1AG
United Kingdom

T: +44 (0) 20 82864422

F: +44 (0) 20 3432 5670
E: info@[Link]

[Link]
The
Address
of Luxury
in Khartoum

230 10
BEDROOMS MEETING ROOMS [Link]/KHARTOUM

1 KM 1000 SEATS TEL: +249 (0) 187 155 555

TO CITY CENTRE THEATRE STYLE IN
MAIN MEETING ROOM
6 FOLLOW US ON:
RESTAURANTS & CAFES