By Abdelwahab El-Gueyed
BUDAPEST, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- Khartoum has drawn up an ambitious plan for cooperation and economic and trade partnerships with the world after the US lifted two-decade sanctions the Sudan, a minister has said.
The plan will take off over the coming next months through tours in friendly countries, and talks with senior officials there, the Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told KUNA in Budapest Wednesday as he concluded the first of its kind visit to Hungary.
Ghandour pointed to the country's great potentials in economy, agriculture, mining and oil, saying that Europe owns modern technology and expertise that are likely to make any economic or trade partnership a success.
Economy is the locomotive of politics, he said, adding that the coming few months would witness broad cooperation with the continent where major companies have shown willingness to return to the Sudanese market.
Today, Sudan is widely open in its relations with the European Union (EU) and the US, the minister said.
On the visit to Budapest, Ghandour said he had had "fruitful talks with Hungarian officials on promoting bilateral ties in all fields amid the regional and international challenges facing the world." Europe significantly relies on Khartoum's leading role in the fight against terrorism and curbing illegal migration, he added, referring to the country's "geographical position and security expertise that help it combat the negative phenomena that disturb the world." According to the Sudanese chief diplomat, illegal migration to Europe from Africa has fallen by 25 percent since Sudan closed borders with Libya.
On ties with Kuwait, Ghandour said the relations between the two countries are "advanced." He commended the outcome of the recent visit to Kuwait by Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashrir who held talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Ghandour highly appreciated Kuwait's support to the Sudan, particularly in the "worst political and economic conditions." For his part, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said there are good investment opportunities the Hungarian companies can seize in the Sudan after signing a bilateral agricultural accord and agreeing to launch cooperation in health and renewable energy, as well as supplying the African country with modern technology.
He noted that a Sudanese security delegation would visit Hungary next month in the framework Europe's efforts to combat terrorism.
The EU has offered Sudan 60 million euro to support its efforts in fighting crime and illegal migration, he noted. (end) amg.msa