DCCI to host major Sudanese Investment and Cultural Forum

The forum will be held under the theme "Enhancing Peace and Development in Sudan" and will be inaugurated in the presence and under the patronage of His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The forum is being organized by the Consulate-General of The Sudan in Dubai and the Sudanese Community Council in Dubai in association with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the occasion of the anniversary of Sudanese Independence.

A number of eminent government ministers and financial experts from the UAE and Sudan will address and participate in the week-long event, which will be the first Sudanese event of its kind be held outside Sudan. The Sudanese delegation will be headed by the Sudanese President's Advisor for Peace Affairs, Dr. Ghazi Salaheldin and Ministers of Investment, Information and Communications.

Addressing a press conference on January 14, Mr.Abdul Rahman Al Mutaiwee, Director-General of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "We are delighted to host this major forum to help further boost the existing strong brotherly relations between the UAE and Sudan. We will be happy to welcome the distinguished guests from Sudan to this event. Ties between the countries have been excellent and the partnership of cooperation covers all sectors including political, trade, finance and culture".

The Consul General of Sudan in Dubai, Ambassador Ahmed Mahgoub Shawer said:"We wish to express our deep appreciation and thanks to His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his kind consent to support this unique forum. As it is the first such gathering outside Sudan of economic and cultural experts from our country, this event will help consolidate the solid bilateral relationship between the UAE and Sudan and also create greater awareness on the investment opportunities in Sudan for foreign investors, particularly those from the UAE and Gulf region".

He added: "With the peace process well underway in Sudan and the proper infrastructure in place, it is only natural that Sudan invites investors from the UAE and other GCC countries to look at investment opportunities in Sudan. We are confident that the high level of participation at the forum will generate tremendous interaction and goodwill between the delegates from both sides. The key speakers will include high-ranking officials from the Sudan and UAE. We will use this gathering to establish a stronger and more stable framework for Sudan-UAE cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, technology and the arts and culture".

Ambassador Shawer said that on the opening day on February 2, Dr. Mohammed Khalfan bin Kharbash, the UAE Minister of State of Finance and Industry and the high-level delegations from Sudan and UAE will participate in a symposium titled "Horizons and Future of Arab Investment in Sudan".

He said that a press conference will be addressed by Dr.Ghazi Salaheldin on February 8 while later that day the foundation stone will be laid for a new building for the Sudanese Consulate-General in Dubai. This will be followed by celebrations marking the anniversary of Sudanese Independence.

Dr. Mousa Ali Ahmed, Director of the Sudanese Community Council said: "On behalf of the Sudanese community, the Sudanese Community Council wishes to express its gratitude to The President, His Highness, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the government and people of the UAE for their wonderful hospitality and support to the Sudanese people working in the UAE. We also wish to express our appreciation to His Highness, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for giving his whole-hearted support to this initiative of the Sudanese Consulate-General and Sudanese Community Council to foster relations between the two countries".

Dr. Ahmed said that the forum was ample testimony of the important role played by the large Sudanese community in the UAE towards enhancing the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the two nations. He said that the 50,000 Sudanese expatriates in the UAE were playing a significant role as ambassadors of Sudan and contributing towards the development of the UAE through their hardwork and expertise.

He said that Sudanese nationals were employed in a number of areas in the UAE and were holding a number of professional positions in the government and private sectors including specialist consultants, doctors, lawyers and engineers.

Providing additional details of the forum, the Vice Consul General of Sudan in Dubai, Mr. Yousif A. El-Khordofani said that on the opening day on February 2, a fascinating exhibition titled "Sudan in the New Millennium" will be inaugurated at BurJuman Centre. The exhibition will last throughout the duration of the Investment and Cultural forum.

Another topic that will be addressed by prominent ministers and experts at the forum is "The Challenges for Peace in Sudan in the light of the current international developments". On February 4, a symposium on Sudanese culture will be held under the slogan "Towards a Unifying Sudanese Culture". It will be attended by Mr. El Tayeb Salih, Dr. Gafar Merganu and other top officials from Sudan.

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