[16/September/2009]
By: Mahmoud Assamiee
SANA'A, Sep. 15 (Saba) - Sudanese Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed Adam Ismail urges stronger economic cooperation between Yemen and Sudan. "Economic cooperation between the two countries is yet to reach satisfying levels."
He made it clear that this cooperation is still in its initial stages although relations between the two people involving movement of communities on both sides are historical.
Yemeni-Sudanese relations, especially the political are described as "excellent," according to the ambassador. "I am optimistic that this relationship will further flourish in the years ahead."
He said that the two countries' leaderships share a similar stand on issues associated with Yemen and Sudan and in many other world issues. He further said the people of the two countries have maintained close bilateral ties.
Reportage department conducted the following interview with the ambassador for more about Yemeni-Sudanese cooperation in different fields and related issues.
Q: Yemeni-Sudanese cooperation in different fields is not new, let us talk first about economic cooperation, what can you tell us about it?
A: Despite US sanctions being in place since 1997, Sudan has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Sudan has so much to offer in terms of agriculture, livestock, and education. Yemen has the opportunity to take a bigger slice of the cake and I urge it to do so.
Economic cooperation between the two countries is still in its first steps despite the close relationship between the two countries. Although many Sudanese have lived in Yemen and many Yemenis have lived in Sudan and this resulted in years of intermarriage, this integration has not been translated into practical economic cooperation serving the interests of the two countries. Yemenis, for example, excels in agriculture and construction and Sudanese can make use of this expertise.
A Yemeni farmer, who has succeeded to grow crops in the mountains, can be very creative if he is given a chance to cultivate in a land like that of Sudan. This field must be activated. Besides, Yemenis have great trade experiences and there must be integration between the two parts in this field, given the threat of food shortage.
Q: What can you tell us about trade exchange between the two countries, what are Sudanese exports to Yemen and Yemeni exports to Sudan? What is it size?
A: Sudan exports to Yemen are considerably small in volume. There is a problem in rising wages of air-transport and could be one obstacles facing exports to each country. Yemen is in need of meat and Sudan is in need of fish and traders are ignoring such opportunities. The price of one kilogram of fish in Sudan is equal to two kilos of meat and the opposite exists in Yemen, one kilograms of meat equals the price of two kilograms of fish.
Besides, Sudanese pharmaceuticals are absent in Yemeni markets. The Sudanese pharmaceutical sector is growing exceptionally well and Yemen should also take advantage of that.
Q: Let's turn to cultural cooperation, how many scholarships each country provides to another?
A: Sudan provides 80 scholarships, for undergraduate and postgraduate studies, to Yemeni students to study in its universities, likewise, Yemen provides 60 scholarships to students of Sudanese community here and if the scholarships outnumbers the students living here, students from Sudan are granted the rest of scholarships to come to Yemen. The opportunities are offered on a competitive basis.
Q: If we talk about Sudanese community in Yemen and Yemeni community in Sudan, what will you tell us?
A: There are Sudanese who have been living in Yemen for more than 20 years; we only discover them when they come to the embassy to renew their residences. Some of them have integrated with Yemeni people and have taken Yemeni wives. Most of those who exist in Yemen are teachers, professors and experts working with foreign missions such as the United Nations.
They are very welcomed between their Yemeni brothers and sisters. The same situation applies to the Yemeni community in Sudan. The Yemeni community in Sudan consists of mostly students.
It is difficult to assess the number of both communities.
Q: Sudan has welcomed Arab investments in its lands, especially in agricultural field, what about Yemeni investments there and what about Sudanese investments in Yemen?
A: Sudan granted Arab countries a chance to invest in agriculture, livestock and fisheries in its soil. Unfortunately, Yemenis have not invested like their Arab counterparts, despite facilitations and privileges provided.
Sudan can fill the development gaps for Yemen in terms of food production for example, given the abundance of water and fertile land which Yemen faces challenges in. Yemeni agricultural investments in Sudan have not begun despite Yemen being a great importer of meats.
There are vast opportunities for Yemeni products to penetrate the Sudanese market. For example, Yemeni grapes and other fruits are absent in Sudan and instead there are grapes being brought from Latin America and South Africa though the distance between Yemen and Sudan is only two hours by plane. Yemen has a great opportunity to cultivate corns in Sudan rather than importing them from abroad.
Sudan is encouraging Yemenis to invest in Sudan to secure certain food imports.
Q: There is joint factor between the two countries that is unity between the south and the north, from your viewpoint, how the two unities can be preserved?
A: This age is the age of great entities. Maintaining the unities between the north and south in both countries has greater advantages and is crucial to development. Concerning unity in Sudan, we gave our brothers in the south, after singing peace treaty, a choice to conduct a referendum in 2011, whether to remain in united Sudan or secede. In case of separation, the relations between the two parts of Sudan will remain stronger than that of the south with the neighboring countries.
Likewise for Yemen, a unified Yemen is better than two Yemens. If there are demands for development for people in the south, in both countries, they must be realized through peaceful means and within the unity. Yemen's unity is better for regional peace and stability. We must consider lessons taken from the European Union which is diverse in many ways than the Arab countries who have more in common than the Europeans do.
Sudan strongly supports the unity and integrity of Yemen.
Q: There are some Arab aspirations for Arab Unity. How do you view the realization of such aspirations?
A: Arab countries have much potential for unity. They have the energy resources, cultural similarities, vast arable lands and water. Their geopolitical location also is of importance. Therefore, Arab countries should ease the restrictions of movement of people and capital to allow greater economic investment to serve the interests of the Arab people. Once the Arab people feel free to move into any Arab country, unity will be the result. We have positive examples of arrangements such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League (AL). However, we have to implement all the agreements to allow easy and free cooperation. Unity does not serve the interests of enemies who follow the policy of divide and then rule. Enemies do not like such unity. Whenever they feel there is close relations between us, they seek for creating problems because when we are separated this threatens their interests. Arab leaders and people have to give attention to Arab Unity. Unfortunately, there are some who give more priority to interests of foreigners than of Arabs.
Q: We have noticed great development in Sudanese industry during recent years, especially in the military field, the latest being the launch of Sudanese-made jets. How has Sudan achieved this?
A: The US embargo imposed on Sudan since 1997 has encouraged the Sudanese to depend on themselves. Militarily Sudan has managed to manufacture most of its defense needs. Civil industries have also realized major breakthroughs in Sudan. For example, Sudan now also manufactures vehicles The Giad factories are producing cars and trucks via French and Korean expertise, in addition to aluminum and iron.
Sudan also has become famous for its pharmaceutical industry. Sudan will inaugurate the biggest factory for intravenous solutions. Many other industries such as sugar have also flourished.
Q: What about other developments?
A: In agricultural development, Sudan has also made progress in increasing production of oil seeds like sunflower which is used as chicken feed and for producing cooking oil. There is also improvement in the field of scientific research. A Sudanese female researcher has invented seeds for sugarcanes. This is considered a breakthrough in agriculture field given the fact that sugarcane grows by seedlings. There is also improvement in the field of energy, in the near future 1250 megawatts of energy will be added to current energy output. This is due to the Merowe Multi-Purpose Hydro Project, which is the largest contemporary hydropower project in Africa.
Q: Sudan is nearing of referendum concerning unity between the South and the North, how do you expect the future of Sudan after the referendum?
A: The referendum is part of the Peace Treaty signed between the North and the South in 2005. We prefer that Sudan remains as one entity integrated and strong with its many capabilities. If referendum resulted in secession- God forbids- the relations between the two parts will remain strong and intimate like those between Singapore and Malaysia. Both countries were formerly united as one state and then separated. They now maintain strong bilateral relations and joint interest exchanges.
Q: What about Sana'a Forum? Where is its role in solving problems its member states face?
A: The Forum is still in its infancy. The future of the forum depends on serving the economic aspirations of the citizens of member states if the treaties signed between its member states are activated that will enhance peace and security and economic development in the region. The secretariat of the forum must be more active. We hope to see joint strategic projects, industrial zones, free trade zones and cooperation in the maritime sector. There are a number of treaties between member states in fields of taxes, banks and telecommunications which need to be activated.
Q: Last what do you want to add?
A: I hope that our bilateral relations will witness a more prosperous future. Sudan supports Yemen's development and welcomes more cooperation for mutual benefits.
Saba
