São Paulo – Gold production of Sudan, the Arab country in North Africa, should come close to 74 tonnes this year, according to figures disclosed by the minister of Mineral Resources, Abdul Bagi Al Gailani, and published by news agency Panapress.
The increase over 2010 should be 6%, as production last year reached 70 tonnes. The ministry affirmed that the volume should exceed government expectations thanks to growth of mining activities around the country.
Gold mining, despite its importance, is not among the main industrial activities of Sudan. Among the country’s industry, prominent are petroleum, cotton, textiles, cement, oils and sugar. The country also produces other items, like hygiene products, shoes, medication and furniture.
Oil, however, has been granting the main boost to the country’s economy in recent years, as it only started exporting the commodity in late 1999. High product prices, in fact, are favourable to the country’s economy, which grew 5.2% in 2010, and 4.2% in 2009.
Industry currently answers to 29% of the Sudanese GDP. Agriculture has a 32.1% share and services, 38.9%. However, 80% of the country’s workers are in agriculture, followed by services, with 13%, and industry, with 7%. Sudan has a work force of 11.9 million people.
*Translated by Mark Ament