Marina Sarruf*
marina.sarruf@anba.com.br
São Paulo – The president at Sudanese company Double M Engineering, of engineering and development, Rafieg Faig Obied, visited São Paulo last week seeking partnerships with construction companies to rebuild Juba University, located in southern Sudan. "We have chosen Brazil because we find that the country has good technology and competitive prices," stated the businessman.
With the aid of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Obied and his partner, Ahmed Elnur Ahmed, general manager at trading company Green Fields, visited companies like Hochtief Brazil, in the construction sector, Soufer Industrial, in metallic structures, Conex Furniture Brazil, a residential furniture export consortium and Caio Induscar, of bus bodies.
According to Obied, the first phase of the works on the university should cater to 1,000 students. The project includes the construction of classrooms, reading rooms, laboratories, libraries, dormitories for professors and students, cafeterias and snack bars. The site covers over 15,000 square metres. "We are also seeking partnerships in technology transfer, investment and scholarships," said Obied.
The businessman said that this first visit to Brazil was to establish contacts with Brazilian companies. In January next year, according to him, the deputy governor of Juba University, Sabrino Barnaba Frag Allá, and director Eltayib Wani Sule Lado, together with other directors, should come to Brazil to evaluate the companies.
According to Obied, Juba University was built in 1977, but with the civil war in the country was transferred to Khartoum, the country capital. The university started with five faculties and now has 16 courses. With the Broad Peace Agreement established in the country, the government wants to take the university back to its original premises.
Sudan
The Arab country is located in North Africa between Egypt and Eritrea. With a population of 37 million inhabitants and a Gross Domestic Product of US$ 39.7 million, the country is the largest on the African continent in terms of area. The main basis of the country economy is agriculture, which employs 80% of the population. The main products in Sudan are cotton, peanuts, sesame seeds and gum arabica, according to the Arab Brazilian Chamber. The oil sector is growing in the country.
From January to October this year, Brazilian exports to Sudan totalled US$ 39.3 million. The main products shipped were sugar, tractors, agricultural machinery, powdered milk and tobacco. Brazilian imports from the Arab country, in turn, generated US$ 52,000 in the same period. Plants for perfumery and gum arabica were the main products bought.
*Translated by Mark Ament
