Sudan Bids to Import Flour, Wheat

Supporters gather outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Supporters gather outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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Sudan Bids to Import Flour, Wheat

Supporters gather outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Supporters gather outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning launched Sunday an open tender on the supply of 500,000 tons of wheat and flour, in response to a wave of protests Sudan witnessed in the past days.

Days earlier, Sudan's Prime Minister Moataz Moussa announced budget 2019 that encapsulates subsidies allocations of SDG66 billion (USD1.4 billion) and SDG53 billion out of them are for bread and fuel.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the wheat and flour bid is meant to calm protesters and easing living conditions that are affected by bread prices and scarcity of wheat.

Economist Prof. Mohamed Jack Ahmad told Asharq Al-Awsat that the success of the public budget is hinged to negative economic indicators including the inflation rate, foreign currencies exchange, the rise of services and commodities prices, and the recession in Sudanese markets.

Director-General of the Agricultural Bank of Sudan Salah al-Din Hassan said that the amount of the tender is to be determined later after the closing date of submission, pointing out that the last tender for the supply of wheat issued by the Ministry of Finance was about two years ago.

Former deputy minister of foreign trade and former official of the wheat file Al-Kindi Yusuf pointed out that the scarcity of strategic commodities, including wheat and bread flour, has become a phenomenon associated with the economies of developing countries, which is always paid to plan for self-sufficiency.

Yusuf pointed out that the tender for wheat and bread flour at this particular time means that the government has renewed the support that stopped the commodity to absorb the political turmoil caused by citizens in protest against the high prices of bread.



US Trade Delegation in Iraq to Boost Economic Ties

 Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
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US Trade Delegation in Iraq to Boost Economic Ties

 Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)

A US trade delegation representing 60 companies was visiting Iraq to sign economic cooperation agreements with the private sector, Washington's embassy in Baghdad said Tuesday.

The three-day visit, which began on Monday, comes amid fears of an international recession after US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on numerous countries, which included 39 percent duties on Iraqi imports.

The US delegation consists of 101 members from 60 companies in the energy, technology and health sectors, who are set to meet with senior Iraqi officials and sign agreements, said an embassy statement to AFP.

It is the largest US trade mission to Iraq in the more than 100-year history of the United States Chamber of Commerce, the embassy added.

In a post on X, the US mission said that a "pivotal memorandum of understanding to strengthen ties between the US and Iraqi private sectors" was signed on Monday between the US Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce.

"This partnership will foster long-term economic collaboration," it said.

According to the office of the US trade representative in Iraq, total goods trade with the oil-rich country reached $9.1 billion in 2024, with US exports amounting to $1.7 billion.

US goods imports from Iraq totaled $7.4 billion.

During the visit, Iraq is expected to sign a "landmark agreement" with General Electric to develop a high-efficiency power plant, according to Farhad Alaaldin, foreign policy adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Last year, during Sudani's visit to Washington, Iraq and the United States signed several memoranda of understanding in the energy sector, including one with General Electric to ensure the maintenance of the Iraqi electricity grid.

Iraq's power plants are currently highly dependent on gas imported from Iran, which provides about a third of its neighbor's energy needs.

But Tehran has often cut supplies, exacerbating regular power outages.

Baghdad has repeatedly stressed the need to diversify energy sources to reduce its dependence on Iran.

Iraq has been trying to move past decades of war and unrest, including a sectarian struggle after the US-led invasion 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein.