Olivia Machel Explores Investment Opportunities with Sudan
08 February, 2016KHARTOUM (SUDANOW)—A big Mozambican investment delegation led by Olivia Machel, the daughter of late Mozambican President Samora Machel, provides an opportunity for African companies to be acquainted with the Sudan's natural resources as well as its human and physical resources and the capabilities of the competitive Sudanese companies.
During the visit that was concluded last Friday memorandums of understanding were signed with a number of Sudanese companies and institutions. SUNA had a chat with Olivia Samora on the outcome of her visit to Sudan. The conversation follows:
SUNA:-What was your impression of Sudan?
Olivia:-First of all, let me thank the Sudanese Ambassador to Mozambique, Abdulla Wadi, for arranging the visit. The image I had on Sudan was entirely different than the reality. The image drawn by Western media on Sudan was that it was a torn country with soldiers and barricades along the public roads. But we found that it is a developing country with knowledgeable young people leading the economic development. It is a country where human minds are invested with universities outspread everywhere.
Q:-Which fields are you planning to invest in?
A:-We have come to explore the sort of investment and the expertise available in Sudan. We need to build partnerships for investment in the gas and petroleum industry. We have found out that the Sudan has stretched Africa's second longest and one of the best pipeline extending from South Sudan to Port Sudan. We have seen drug and agricultural industries in Jiad Industrial City. Sugar processing is growing fast. Some of our industries were destroyed during the civil war and we intend to develop the agricultural and animal production as well as the petroleum and gas industries and we need the Sudanese experience.
Q:-When can some practical steps be taken for Sudanese companies to invest in Mozambique and Mozambican companies operate in Sudan?
A:-The civil war that lasted 17 years, starting from the independence of Mozambique has nullified the development. The Sudan experienced similar conditions but has now recovered and we have the ability of achieving development in all fields. We need the Sudanese experience and for the Mozambican investment to take off in Sudan for achievement of the wished development of our communities in all fields. Then the process of exchanging benefits will begin for the common interest of our companies and communities.
Q:-Which Sudanese companies and industries that can do investment in Mozambique?
A:-We have recently found great quantities of gas. We are inviting SUDAPET and other companies which operate in the food production and industry and those which are engaged in small industries. We have concluded memoranda of understanding with a number of those companies; our policy is based on economic cooperation and investment with our brothers in the African Continent.
Q:-How do you comment on the economic sanctions on Sudan?
A:-The siege has benefitted the Sudan a great deal. It has challenged this siege by developing local alternatives. The Sudan has now more than 60 universities and has developed the infrastructure, the dams, reservoirs and roads. Only a stickler can deny the progress the Sudan has achieved under the siege. We call upon the Africans to visit the Sudan and so long as a siege can lead to Sudan a progress, the African countries must prepare themselves for it. With the development I have noticed in Sudan, I could not feel the siege. My father, former President Samora Michel, used to say: "If an enemy strikes you, it means that you have to be ready for a confrontation with him." The Sudan has applied this theory. Although the civil war has stopped and the international community cooperates with us, we have not reached the level of development it has reached. We seek to develop the relations between the two countries, particularly in the private sector.
Q:-What are the results of the talks and the visit?
A:-They were positive. We have acquainted with the development that has occurred. We have signed eight memoranda of understanding with Kenana Sugar Company, SUDAPET, Amipharma medicines group, Asawir, Begrawiyah, Petroleum Training Center, international wealth for services, a number of poultry companies and Jiad Group. Practical steps will begin soon.
Q:-What is the expected volume of investment between the two countries?
A:-The principles and values are more important than other things. However, we are planning to build an economic investment development led by the private sectors of the two countries. I believe the funds will be huge but cannot be estimated at this time. What we have made sure of was on the volume of the Sudanese capabilities and experience beside the confidence between the two peoples and the capabilities of the Sudanese companies. The visit was successful by 100% and will bring fruit. We are indebted to the Sudan for assisting us during the national struggle.
Q:-How big are the financial capabilities of your Group?
A:-Our capabilities are very high. We are planning to build a partnership with SUDAPET for construction of a gas pipeline stretching from north Mozambique up to South Africa of 10,000 kilometers in length to supply 10 countries with gas. The gas pipeline will cost 6 billion dollars, which is a simple picture of the task of the Group. The gas reserve in one field is estimated at 1 billion cubic meters.
The gas can enable us to export electricity and for this reason we are planning to build a power-house that generates 10,000 megawatts, in addition to petrochemical industries. The South African countries are in short of electricity and gas supplies and we are planning to supply them with those commodities beside the coal which we have already begun to export.
Q:-How about the political support for investment between the two countries?
A:-I believe an investor will not wait for the politician to establish relations, but he works by himself and only his success forces the politicians to develop the relations. Moreover, it will be the benefits that cement the ties between the two peoples.
Q:-What is your opinion about investment of the African capital within the Continent?
A:-We ought to develop our peoples and to identify our capabilities, trust each other and not to permit others to interfere in our affairs for creating problems to us and the closest example was the ignorance that has caused us.
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MAS/ AS
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