São Paulo – The Sudanese minister of Industry, Awad Al-Jaz, is going to pay a visit to Brazil next week, accompanied by a delegation of government officials and private sector representatives, with the main goal of discussing partnerships in the sugar and ethanol industry. The information was supplied by the Sudanese ambassador to Brasília (the Brazilian capital), Abd Elkarim.
According to the diplomat, the minister will present seven sugar and ethanol industry projects be implemented in the African country. The Sudanese want Brazilian companies to participate in the projects. "Sudan has a high ethanol consumption," said Elkarim. "[The projects are meant] to produce 2 million tonnes [per year] for local consumption," he added.
The ambassador claimed that Brazilian companies possess vast experience in the field, and produce "excellent" machinery and equipment, hence the interest in finding partners in Brazil, be it as suppliers, builders or investors.
One of these projects concerns the White Nile Sugar Company, which is issuing a tender for the purchase of agricultural machinery of various types. Brazilian companies already have experience doing business in Sudan. Recently, for instance, Dedini, based in the interior of the state of São Paulo, supplied machinery and equipment to an ethanol plant of the Sudan-based Kenana group.
Brazilians are operating in other agricultural segments in the African country, such as cotton farming. Sudan uses its availability of land and agricultural incentives to attract investors.
El Jaz should go to Brasília in order to attend a meeting with the minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Miguel Jorge, but he should spend a significant share of its time in São Paulo meeting with sugar and ethanol industry companies.
According to Elkarim, the search for partnerships in Brazil is part of the dialogue between South America and Arab and African countries, encouraged by the Brazilian government. "President Lula is strongly engaged in exchanging experiences with Africa and the Arab countries," said the diplomat.
Sudan wants to attract agricultural sector deals in order to ensure its food security, according to the ambassador. He stated that the country has invested in the oil industry, and now it wants to promote agricultural production.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
