“Made in Sudan” and two positive points on Sudanese Economy

Mekki ElMograbi

1\ The Ministry of Industry organized the “Made in Sudan” exhibition in collaboration with Sudanese Free Zones Company and Chambers of Industry. The Expo is dedicated only to goods and products made in Sudan. 

I wrote before about Ibrahim AL-SHEIKH, the Minister of Industry and the former president of the Sudanese Congress Party in my article “Four New Leaders for Free Economy and Better Relations with the World”.

I believe now and after this expo, we need to interview this man on the details of his plan on launching a new era of industrialization in Sudan.

The expo missed international media presence to help broadcast the real image of prosperous industries in Sudan.

More than 6 industrial sectors of industries showing more than 100 products already with well-known names and reputation in the region.  Not just that, but new inventions and brands too.

I just picked up the new delicious and healthy Sudanese mayonnaise made of baobab powder (“Tabaldi”) by KRIX company. The idea is simple, Tabaldi is full of vitamins A and C, and has the same color of mayonnaise with a unique and organic flavor.

I want here to pose some questions to the minister of industry; how can his ministry launch any plan while the new cabinet has failed to declare an inclusive program for government?

It is not only the ambitious and smart plans of industrialization that can make the change, but rather it is the financial policies of the entire government.  One minister cannot make the change; one hand cannot clap!

Lives and Profits

2\ The exchange rate for Sudanese currency (SDG) is almost stable. All who were resistant to the idea of floating Sudanese currency are saying now loudly “Wow, it works”, the new cabinet made it!

Still, there is currently a heating discussion over the incentives that should be presented to the Sudanese who work abroad in order to attract their savings.

Some of them are criticizing the government and accusing its different authorities of taking from them with the left hand what was given to them with the right hand.

The stability in the exchange rate in Sudan, that was the doing of one decisive decision, proves again that the Sudanese economy is ready to be reformed and changed into a successful economy. The time needed for this change is shorter than what we expect.

3\ I watched the visit of Dr. Abdalla HAMDOK, Sudan’s PM, to the General Medical Supplies Authority to discuss urgent solutions to the medicine situation.

I found some answers to most of the questions. However, there is no complete and final solution but the situation is better than it was before six months. 

“Some remedies now cost more than the minimum wage,” the Professional Pharmacists Association of Sudan said in a statement on the rising prices of essential medicines.

What are the reasons? It is clear that with foreign currency shortages and inflation, the prices will be high and unstable but at least when things are available you can manage their prices with either direct governmental support or health insurance.

There should also be a bigger role for Sudanese NGOs that work with international agencies.

The second cabinet after the revolutionary change is paying the price of the crisis made by the previous cabinet, which was socialists-dominated and raised the slogan “lives are more important than profits”.

It is true that nothing more important than the lives of people but the idealistic slogan has been misinterpreted in aggressive media campaigns against the private sector and led to misunderstanding between the government and the medical companies and pharmaceutical factories.

Mekki ElMograbi is a press writer on African affairs. He can be reached through his email (elmograbi@gmail.com) or his contact number +249912139350 (Whatsapp and Telegram)