Ministry of  Industry

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minstry of tourism

Sudanese Product Factories & Tanners

Bank of Sudan

The Service Committee (MIA 6th Edition)

The map for the exhibition hall

Hotel in Khartoum

 

 

Sudanese Chambers of Industries Association

Khartoum - Sudan -P.O.Box:2565 

 Tel +249 129364148

Fax:+249 183 471720

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Country Information

 

 

 

 

Location:

Sudan has a strategic location in the heart of Africa lying between 4 – 22 N latitude and 22 – 38 E longitude.

Country Size:

2.5 Million Square Kilometers

Population:

34.9 Million (2003 census)

Climate:

The climate ranges from desert and semi desert in the north, savanna in the mainland, equatorial in the south and costal in the east at the Red Sea.

Capital City:

Khartoum

Currency:

Sudanese Pounds (SD.G)

Exchange rate:

1 EURO = 3.14 SD.G

Languages:

Arabic and English.

GDP (US$):

17.8 Billion.

Economy - Overview:

With the assistance of IMF from 1997 onwards intense reforms have been implemented resulting in revival of the country’s growth, curbing macroeconomic imbalances and inflation and removing price and market controls and encouraging the private sector. The advent of peace after Two decades of North/South conflict provide the country with a golden opportunity to unleash its vast potential: a rich agricultural and livestock resource base with great export potential, sound prospects for oil industry and the good will of donors and investors to support the peace process.

Main Economic Sectors:

Agriculture, Industry and Services are the main sectors of the economy. Their contributions to the GDP in 2002 were 39%, 18% and 43% respectively.

Main Exports:

Crude Oil, Cotton, Sesame, Groundnuts, Livestock, leather and Gum Arabic.

Main Imports:

Capital Goods, Machinery & equipment, building and construction materials.

Industry (Main Industries):

Petroleum, Food stuff (Sugar, Edible oils) Textile and Leather.

Natural Resources:

Extending from the hot north to the wet tropical South the country has multidimensional ecologies, immense fertile land - about 80 million hectares suitable for producing various crops. Sudan also enjoys the presence of the River Niles which run throughout the country and their tributaries, plenty of ground water mainly under the Nubian Sand Stone and long coastal line in the Red Sea in addition the stretches of tropical forests in the South.

Agriculture (Main Products):

Sorghum, cotton, oilseeds, wheat, fruits and vegetables.

International Organization Membership

UN bodies, IMF, IBRD Group, Arab league and agencies, African Union and COMESA, WTO membership is under consideration.

Infrastructure:

The country has 3 Seaports on the Red Sea and a number of Airports including 3 International Airports at Khartoum, Dongola and Port Sudan.
Railway networking covers almost all parts of the country, including the Northern parts of the South.
Road transport has also expanded considerably during the last few years.        

Other:

The telecommunication sector has thrived remarkably following privatization reflecting a sharp increase in the number of users.

Threats:

* High operational costs due to continuation of taxes and levies from different levels of government.
* Flooding of market with cheap products from Asia and other countries like Syria, Turkey and Egypt.

     

Government Policy

Fiscal Policies:

The government has embarked on a wide fiscal reform packages aiming at increase public financial resources, rationalizing their management.
The introduction of VAT and its continued coverage constituted and Important part of this package. Other components of this package were reduction in export levies and corporate taxes with a view to encourage production and exports.

Monetary Regulations:

Sudan has recently switched to indirect monitory policy management and a managed- float exchange rate system. All controls on foreign exchange have been removed, and now the country is successfully building its foreign exchange reserves.

Trade regulations:

All trade regulation and controls were dismantled and the import procedures have been largely simplified. Exports are being encouraged though various measures.

 

Investment Environment

Requirements For Foreign Investment / Joint ventures:

The government has adopted since 1990’s an Investment Encouragement Act. That contains a wide range of concessions, facilities and guarantees. This act has been strengthened by a big privatization program. and two duty free Zones in Khartoum and Port Sudan. The Act was renewal for the Investment act was at 2000.

In case of notifying the applicant of the preliminary approval, he shall register a business name, in accordance with the provisions of the Business Names (Registration) Act, 1931 , or any law as may substitute the same. Where the applicant is a branch of a foreign company, he shall register the branch of the company, in the Sudan, in accordance with the laws organizing the same; on condition that the certificate evidencing the registration of the business name, or branch of the foreign company, shall be presented , within a maximum period of two months, of the date of his obtaining the preliminary approval .

Foreign capital evaluated:

(1) Components of the foreign capital shall be evaluated, as has been set out in regulation 16 , by a committee, to be constituted by the Minister, from the bodies having connection . Evaluation shall include examination and auditing all the necessary documents, presented by the investor, and viewing the units; provided that the committee shall submit the report thereof, to the Minister, within a maximum period of sixty days, of the date of presenting the application.

(2) There shall be delivered, to the investor, a copy of the report of the committee, to express his opinion. Where he does not object thereto, within fifteen days, the report shall be valid, after approval thereof, by the Minister.

(3) Where the investor objects, his opinion shall be submitted, to the same committee, to study it. Where they accept the same, evaluation shall be repeated, in the light thereof. Where they do not accept it, the Minister shall form, within a maximum period of fifteen days, another committee, for re-evaluation, and submit the report thereof, within a maximum period of fifteen days, of the date of formation of the same, and the decision thereof, in this respect, shall be final.

(4) The investor shall bear payment of all the evaluation costs.

Foreign capital registered:

(1) The foreign capital in the project shall be registered with the Bank of Sudan, and a certificate to this effect, from the Bank of Sudan, shall be delivered to the investor. For the purposes of such registration, the investor shall present the following documents :
 a) a copy of the legal deed for the establishment of the project;
 b) in case of entry of the capital in cash, a copy of the form specified therefor shall be presented, approved by one of the commercial banks, through which any part of the foreign capital has been transmitted, into local exchange;
 c) in case of import, from the account of investment, opened with one of the commercial banks, accredited by the Bank of Sudan, the certificate of customs value shall be presented;
 d) in case of entry of the capital in kind, a copy of the bills of lading and the original of the customs value certificate, and a copy of the report of evaluation, set out in regulation 17;
 e) in case of withdrawal of part of the capital, to pay for services, rendered to the project, in the establishment stage, a copy of the necessary bills and documents, together with a certificate, from a certified auditor.

(2) For the purposes of registration of funding, with the Bank of Sudan, the investor shall present the following documents :
 a) the form, prepared therefor, approved by the commercial bank, through which part of the value of funding has been transmitted, into local exchange, or meeting the import of the needs of the project;
 b) in case of funding in kind, a copy of the customs value certificate, and the report of the evaluation, set out in regulation 17 , shall be presented;
 c) in case of use of part of the funding, for payment of services rendered, to the project, in the establishment stage, a copy of the necessary bills and documents shall be presented, together with a certificate, from a certified auditor.

Foreign funding:

The foreign funding of a project shall consist of the following:
 a) the foreign funds transmitted, into free foreign exchange, acceptable to the Bank of Sudan;
 b) the loans in kind, to import the needs of the project, upon the approval of the Minister.

The project accounts in foreign exchange:

Accounts, in foreign exchange, may be opened for the project, in the banks accredited to the Bank of Sudan , the resources of which shall consist of the capital, and loans paid in foreign exchange, and used to respond to the needs of the project from abroad.

Profits and funding obligations transmitted in foreign exchange:

(1) The investor shall present the application for transmission of the profits, to the commercial bank, with which he deals; provided that it shall be accompanied by the following documents:
 a) the budget and the final accounts, pertaining to the period concerned, being audited and approved by a certified auditor in the Sudan, and sealed by the Taxation Chambers; provided that such accounts shall show the net profits due to the investor, capable of transmission in foreign exchange;
 b) a copy of the certificate of registration of the foreign capital;
 c) a certificate of clearance, from the Taxation Chambers;
 d) in case of companies, a copy of the decision of the general assembly approving the budget, the final accounts and the decision of distribution of profits, and the date of the same.

(2) The investor shall present the application for transmission of the funding obligations due, to the commercial bank, with which he deals; provided that it shall be accompanied by the following documents:
 a) a copy of the loan agreement, approved by the Bank of Sudan;
 b) a certificate of the registration of the loan, with the Bank of Sudan;
 c) a certificate of clearance, from the Taxation Chambers.

Re-export of the invested capital:

(1) The foreign capital invested in the project shall be re- exported abroad, upon an application, presented by the investor, and approved by the Minister, in case of disposal of the project totally, or partially, or in case of its final liquidation.

(2) In case of partial liquidation of the project, after approval of the Minister, the investor shall attach, to the application, the following documents:
 a) such documents, as may prove the disposal transferring ownership, authenticated by a competent court, or advocate;
 b) a certificate, from the competent bodies, that the investor has paid all his taxes obligations, and any other entitlements upon the investor;
 c) a copy of the certificate of registration of the foreign capital with the Bank of Sudan.

(3) In case of final liquidation of the project, there shall be attached to the application, the following documents :
 a) the budget of liquidating the project, approved by a certified auditor in the Sudan;
 b) a certificate, from the liquidator, in proof of payment , by the project, of all its obligations legally due, and the net share of the investor capable of transmission;
 c) consent of the partners and subscribers, in case of partnerships, or companies, to liquidation, authenticated by an advocate, and approved by the Commercial Registrar General, at the Ministry of Justice, or the decision of the Competent court for liquidation.

(4) In case of foreign capital imported in kind, the investor, after approval of the Minister, may re-export the same, in the same form it has originally been imported.

Foreign workmen and experts employed:

(1) The project may employ foreign workmen and experts, with respect to such required experiences, as may not be available in the Sudan, in accordance with the laws in force in this respect.

(2) The Ministry shall notify the Bank of Sudan of the transmission of the savings of foreign employees, as the Bank of Sudan regulations may specify, after presenting all the documents necessary therefore.

Tax Incentives:

The Investment Encouragement act includes generous exemptions from a number of direct and indirect taxes and fees and charges. This includes long tax holiday. This also includes the free importation of machinery, equipment. Land allocation in Industrial Sides with special prices. Also the Import Tax for industrial Inputs was reduced from 10% to 5%.

Free Trade Zones:

Among the efforts which aim at promoting foreign investment, the government has established free zones which include:

1. Khartoum Free Trade Zones, at El-Gaili (45 Km from Khartoum) and Port Sudan Free Trade Zones, near to the Port.
2. Suakin Free Zone
3. Aljaily Free Zone.    

The Free Zones and Free Markets Law 1994

This law represents the legislative framework for the establishment and operation of free zones and markets in Sudan. The rules resultant from this law represent the organizational framework for operating and managing free zones in Sudan.

Advantages of investment in free zones:

- Industrial, commercial or service investments which are licensed to be established in the free zones enjoy the following advantages:
- Exemption of the projects from profits tax for a period of 15 years, renewable for an extra period dependant on the decision made by the concerned minister commencing from the 1 year period of grace which follows the year of commencement of production.
- Salaries of expatriates working in projects within the free zones will be exempted from the personal income tax
- Exemption of products imported into the free zone or exported abroad from all customs fees and taxes except service fees and any other fee imposed by the board of the Sudan Free Zones Company.
- Real estate establishment inside the free zones area are exempted from all taxes and fees
- Invested capital and profits are transferable from Sudan to abroad through any bank licensed to operate in the free zone.
- Exemption of products of industrial projects established in the free zones from customs fees; depending on materials used and local costs incurred in production, provided that the value be estimated by a committee assigned for this purpose by the board of the Sudanese Free Zones Company.

Guarantees (rule 10)

Money invested in the free zones may not be frozen, confiscated, or arrested·

Transiting (rule 15)

With respect to agreements binding on the government of Sudan, goods transiting, waiting to be transferred to other countries may be stored in the free zones under the supervision of the customs police available at the inlets and outlets of the free zones.

Rent (rule 16)

The company has the right to rent its land and buildings according to the terms it agrees upon and without being bound by any other law.

Useful links:


http://www.sudaninvest.gov.sd

http://www.mof-sudan.net

http://www.industry.gov.sd

http://www.sudanbank.org

Institutional Support

Institute Name

National Leather Technology Center (NLTC)

Sudan University for Science and Technology

University of Juba, Faculty of Applied and Industrial Sciences

Sudanese Chambers of Industries Association, Leather and Footwear Chamber

Chamber of Small Industries & Crafts Union of Sudan

Sudanese Hides & Skins Exporter Union

Ministry of Industry

Ministry of Investment

Sudanese Standard & Metrology Organization

Sudan Trade Point (STP)

National Hides/Skins Improvement Center

info@miasudan.com

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