Sudan to Develop Red Sea Port in $6-Bln Initial Pact with Emirati Group 

Sudan signed a preliminary agreement with a group led by the UAE's AD Ports Group and Invictus Investment to build and operate the Abu Amama port and economic zone on the Red Sea with a $6-billion investment. (WAM)
Sudan signed a preliminary agreement with a group led by the UAE's AD Ports Group and Invictus Investment to build and operate the Abu Amama port and economic zone on the Red Sea with a $6-billion investment. (WAM)
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Sudan to Develop Red Sea Port in $6-Bln Initial Pact with Emirati Group 

Sudan signed a preliminary agreement with a group led by the UAE's AD Ports Group and Invictus Investment to build and operate the Abu Amama port and economic zone on the Red Sea with a $6-billion investment. (WAM)
Sudan signed a preliminary agreement with a group led by the UAE's AD Ports Group and Invictus Investment to build and operate the Abu Amama port and economic zone on the Red Sea with a $6-billion investment. (WAM)

Sudan on Tuesday signed a preliminary agreement with a group led by the UAE's AD Ports Group and Invictus Investment to build and operate the Abu Amama port and economic zone on the Red Sea with a $6-billion investment. 

The project, located about 200 km (124 miles) north of Port Sudan, would include an economic zone, an airport and an agricultural zone of 400,000 feddans (415,000 acres). 

A 450-km-long (280 mile) road will connect Abu Amama port with the agricultural area of Abu Hamad in Sudan's River Nile State, the two sides said at the signing ceremony held in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. 

Invictus Investment is headed by Osama Daoud Abdellatif, the chairman of Sudanese conglomerate DAL, who had previously described the port as a joint project between DAL group and AD Ports. AD Ports is owned by Abu Dhabi's holding company ADQ. 

Abdellatif had said the port would be able to handle all kinds of commodities and would compete with the country's main national port, Port Sudan, which has suffered recently from stoppages linked to the country's political turmoil. 

Sudan's Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim said the country would be entitled to 35% of the net profits from the $6 billion Abu Amama venture. 

The deal was signed just over a week after Sudan's military and civilian political parties signed a framework agreement aimed at forming a civilian government and launching a new political transition after an October 2021 coup. 



Saudi Arabia’s Mandatory List Boosts Local Companies in Government Procurement

A factory in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A factory in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia’s Mandatory List Boosts Local Companies in Government Procurement

A factory in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A factory in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Mandatory List has emerged as a strategic lever to strengthen the role of local businesses in public sector procurement.

Designed to drive demand for Saudi-made products, the list not only expands market opportunities for domestic manufacturers but also ensures that government entities procure reliable goods that meet stringent quality standards.

Last year, government tenders that included items from the list surpassed 46,600, with a combined value of SAR67.6 billion ($18 billion).

The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority has been steadily updating the list, adding about 407 new products in 2024.

This week, officials announced a further expansion, introducing 105 additional products across seven key sectors: pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, construction, transportation and logistics, furniture, cybersecurity, and information technology.

Authorities say this effort underscores a broader commitment to make local content a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s future economy. By prioritizing Saudi products, the government aims to empower national industries, spur innovation, and increase job opportunities while reducing reliance on imports.

The latest update is also part of policies favoring small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and companies listed on the Saudi financial market.

The initiative seeks to strengthen local supply chains and raise the readiness of domestic factories to fulfill public sector demand.

According to the Authority, expected government spending on the newly added products exceeds SAR2.3 billion ($613 million). More than 100 Saudi factories are already equipped to meet this anticipated demand.

These measures form part of broader efforts to maximize the economic impact of public spending. In the second half of last year alone, a series of new policies, strategic agreements, and national programs contributed to economic gains exceeding SAR80 billion ($21.3 billion).

The Authority also integrated local content requirements into 54 privatization projects valued at SAR269 billion ($71.7 billion). Of these, 24 projects have already achieved their targets, representing overSAR 131 billion ($34.9 billion) in contracts aimed at boosting private sector participation and employment.