DAKSHIN

Sudan

Relations between India and Sudan date back to ancient times. Evidences indicate that there were contacts and possibly trade almost 5,000 years ago between Nilotic and Indus Valley Civilizations through Mesopotamia. India and Sudan have almost 30 bilateral agreements covering trade, science and technology, media, culture, consultations, business, small industries, legal matters, air services, agriculture etc. India is a significant trade partner of Sudan. Bilateral trade between both countries is on a steep rise, lately.

Ambassador welcomed in his office Maj General Dr. Zakaria Ibrahim , Director, Aliyaa Hospital, Omdurman who briefed him about the efforts made by Aliyaa Hospital in capacity building and thanked him for the assistance rendered by the Embassy and Hospitals in India in this regard

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme celebration in Embassy of India, Khartoum

75 Years of India's Development , about India’s culture, educational system, technological advancements and how Sudan and India can share their experiences to foster academic cooperation. He also responded to various queries on ITEC & ICCR scholarships.

Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic

Government of India has supplied 2.84 million of Covishield Covid-19 vaccine to Sudan under Covax scheme. Following record breaking floods in July-August 2020 and the COVID pandemic, GOI donated 100 MT food aid (75 MT white flour and 25 MT sugar) as HADR supplies in November 2020 at Port Sudan delivered by INS Airavat. In April 2021, GOI also donated 6 tonnes of life saving essential medicines to Sudan.

Capacity Building & Other Exchanges

Sudanese scholars have also been selected for the C.V. Raman Fellowship Programme. Sudanese diplomats have been attending Professional Courses for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) organized by Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Services (SSIFS).
In November 2019, 40 Sudanese Government professionals had undergone a special English language proficiency course in Hyderabad; 25 Sudanese Judges went to Bengaluru in December 2019 for a special training programme; a group of 50 officials from various Sudanese Ministries/ Agencies attended a special English course in Hyderabad in March 2020.
In February 2019, a group of 46 Sudanese young diplomats attended a 15-day special course at FSI. Sudanese students avail scholarships for higher education in India offered by ICCR.
The number of annual ITEC slots being offered to Sudan is the maximum in the region. A large number of Sudanese government employees have undergone various customized training courses under ITEC.
ICCR under its Africa Scholarship Scheme offers around 60 scholarship slots every year for pursuing higher studies in India.
Under Government of India’s “Pan-African E-Network” project for first phase, which ended in 2017, Sudan utilized the services of tele-education and tele-medicine. Government of India has launched the second phase of this project with enhanced capacity and superior equipment called e-Vidya Bharati (tele-education) and Arogya Bharati (tele-medicine) [e-VBAB]. This project will be set up in three educational institutions and one hospital in Sudan. Enrollment for distance learning courses under e-Vidya Bharati has also taken place.
In pursuance of the commitments made under IAFS-III, mid-career specialized training courses are conducted at regular intervals at renowned hospitals in India like Apollo, Fortis and Artemis. India has become the major destination for Sudanese patients to avail medical treatment. India issued 6175 medical/medical attendant visas in 2019, 3284 (2020), 4049 (2021) and 6966 (2022). Prominent hospitals like Apollo, Yashoda, Fortis are in the process of setting up information centres in Sudan to better serve the Sudanese patients.
Sudanese side had requested Indian expertise in treatment of medical waste.
About 1500 students travel to India annually for higher studies mainly to Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. More than 100,000 Sudanese, graduates of Indian Universities, have carved a niche for themselves in their chosen fields. The number of student visas issued by the Mission is increasing every year. Mission issued nearly 1775 student visas in 2019, 507 during 2020, 1007 in 2021 and 1454 in 2022.
India had in the past provided germ plasm for Neem, Mango and Ashok trees. Sudan had also requested help for technical know-how for rice production; small scale sugar mills of capacity up to 200 TCD (Tons of Cane per Day). Some areas of cooperation could be twinning of agricultural universities; capacity building in micro-finance; bio-fertilizers; cow and sheep breeding technology; warehousing; rain water harvesting; milk cooperatives etc.

Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)

A number of Lines of Credit have been extended to the Government of Sudan beginning with Rs. 20 million Line of Credit in 1980. In 2003, US$ 50 million LoC was extended to Sudan (the first ever on G-to-G basis) for Indian goods and services in power, solar energy, railways and laboratory equipment. From 2003 to 2013, various Lines of Credit have been extended to the Government of Sudan, through EXIM Bank of India.
In April 2006, India funded a solar electrification (implemented by Central Electronics Ltd) for Khadarab village about two-hours road journey from Khartoum, bringing light for the first time into the lives of some 1,500 villagers. The project has been replicated in several other villages.
Kosti Thermal Power Plant built by BHEL is located at Um- Dabaker in Sudan with capacity of 500 MW (4 X 125 MW). This is the largest thermal power plant in Sudan, the biggest combined cycle project built by BHEL in Africa. It is BHEL's largest oil-fired thermal power plant in the overseas market and also its first crude-oil fired thermal power plant in Africa. The project is financed under LoC of US$ 350 million to Sudan. The power plant was commissioned in February 2016.
Mashkour Sugar Project is funded under LoC of US$ 150 million in 2 tranches of US$ 25 million and US$ 125 million as agreed in January 2009. The project aims to produce 1,13,000 tons of white sugar. It also envisages co-generation of 33 KW of electricity and 75 KL of ethanol per day. In October 2009, a contract was signed between Mashkour Sugar Company (MSC) and Overseas Infrastructure Alliance India private limited (OIA) as the main contractor for US$ 149.975 million.
India provided 23 tonnes of medical aid to Sudan in May 2023.

Special Endeavour: Duty Free and Preferential Treatment (DFTP) Scheme

Sudan is a beneficiary of India’s Duty Free and Preferential Treatment (DFTP) Scheme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) since 2009 and Exports to India from Sudan have been gradually rising. The DFTP Scheme grants duty free access on about 96% of India's total tariff lines, preferential access (Positive List) on about 2.2% of tariff lines and only 1.8% tariff lines are under the Exclusion List.

Special Endeavour: Heritage Restoration

In 2016, ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) donated solar street lights to a village in Ombadda area of Khartoum State.
On 15 August 2007, Indian company Angelique International Ltd gifted US$ 5,000 to renovate the Indian school in Kassala town, while OVL helped to refurbish Indian club in Port Sudan.