Int’l Pledge to Support Sudan’s Economic Reforms Program

Customers look on as a vender displays fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Customers look on as a vender displays fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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Int’l Pledge to Support Sudan’s Economic Reforms Program

Customers look on as a vender displays fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Customers look on as a vender displays fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

UK Department for International Development representatives and UN agencies operating in Sudan affirmed during a meeting with the state minister at the ministry of finance in Khartoum on Friday that the international community is willing to provide technical support to Sudan to reinforce its economic reform program.

Following the meeting Friday, a joint document stressed efforts to restore confidence between the Khartoum government and the international community and to prepare a plan to benefit from the support programs offered by the international community to Sudan.

The conferees agreed that the document’s implementation would encourage Arab Gulf countries to increase their support to Sudan and make new investments it.

State minister at the Sudanese ministry of finance Tareq Hasan Shalabi told Asharq Al-Awsat that his country has moved ahead in implementing economic reform programs since the start of 2018 without international assistance, which caused a deficit especially with the rise in prices of subsidized goods.

European Union Ambassador to Sudan Jean-Michel Dumond said the EU was willing to support the country economically, especially in financial reforms on expanding taxation.

Dumond and Osama Faisal, minister of state at the Sudanese ministry of foreign affairs, discussed a number of local, regional and international issues of mutual concern. They also agreed to hold more talks to deepen bilateral ties.

The World Bank has expanded its economic team working in Sudan to provide the required technical assistance and help the country face its economic challenges.

According to sources, the World Bank delegation that visited Sudan two months ago was briefed on the government’s preparations for a strategy on fighting poverty.



Saudi Arabia: Mawani Reports Container Throughput Rises at Ports in June

Jeddah Islamic Seaport. Photo: Mawani
Jeddah Islamic Seaport. Photo: Mawani
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Saudi Arabia: Mawani Reports Container Throughput Rises at Ports in June

Jeddah Islamic Seaport. Photo: Mawani
Jeddah Islamic Seaport. Photo: Mawani

The ports supervised by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recorded an 18.66% increase in handled containers in June, reaching 696,839 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared to 587,261 TEUs during the same month in 2024.

Transshipment containers also recorded an increase of 35.94%, reaching 164,999 containers, compared to 121,377 containers during the same month last year.

Export containers posted a strong increase of 17.79%, reaching 268,587 TEUs, compared to 228,031 TEUs during the same month of the previous year. Import containers grew by 10.68%, totaling 263,253 TEUs, compared to 237,853 TEUs during June 2024.

Total cargo throughput — general cargo, solid bulk, and liquid bulk — rose by 1.74%, reaching 21,464,070 tons, compared to 21,096,774 tons during the same month last year. General cargo reached 922,351 tons, solid bulk cargo 4,229,665 tons, and liquid bulk cargo 16,312,054 tons. The ports also received 959,188 head of livestock, marking a 47.35% decrease compared to 1,821,863 head during the same month last year.

Maritime traffic rose by 7.56%, with 1,039 vessels handled, compared to 966 vessels during the same month last year. Passenger traffic increased by 42.34%, reaching 78,698 travelers, compared to 55,289 during the same month of 2024. However, vehicle handling declined by 25.42%, totaling 75,437 vehicles, compared to 101,146 vehicles during the same month of the previous year.

Finally, in May 2025, Mawani reported a 13% increase in handled container volumes, reaching 720,684 TEUs, compared to 639,736 TEUs in June 2024.