Sudan looks to China for developing agriculture
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Abdelhalim Ismail Elmtafi Mohamed, the Sudanese minister of agriculture and forestry, at the China-Africa Agricultural Forum in Beijing on Aug. 12. [Xu Lin / China.org.cn] |
![Abdelhalim Ismail Elmtafi Mohamed, the Sudanese minister of agriculture and forestry, at the China-Africa Agricultural Forum in Beijing on Aug. 12. [Xu Lin / China.org.cn]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100813/0011111fa1560dcef50e10.jpg "Abdelhalim Ismail Elmtafi Mohamed, the Sudanese minister of agriculture and forestry, at the China-Africa Agricultural Forum in Beijing on Aug. 12. [Xu Lin / China.org.cn]")
Sudan’s minister of agriculture and forestry welcomed Chinese farmers and investors to help Sudan develop its agriculture, saying that cooperation between the two countries would be a "win-win situation."
"China has advanced agricultural technologies and experiences, and Sudan has rich natural resources," Abdelhalim Ismail Elmtafi Mohamed said Thursday.
While Sudan has fertile soil, an abundant water supply, good weather and low labor costs, it lacks capital and technology. It hopes to attract more investment from Chinese companies. Sudan has favorable taxation policies for China, and Chinese farmers are allowed to work freely in Sudan.
China and Sudan signed a three-year agreement for agricultural cooperation last year. So far, China’s Ministry of Agriculture has sent agricultural experts to Sudan and built a technology transfer center there to introduce local farmers to the latest high-yield crops. Sudan has also sent people to China for more training.
Mohamed said that to attract more investment, China and Sudan should work together on improving insurance policies. "Agriculture is a risky business," he said, noting the possibility of natural disasters such as floods.
Mohamed was in Beijing for the two-day China-Africa Agricultural Forum, along with 350 representatives from government and businesses in China and 18 African countries.
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