PORT SUDAN – An international conference on Sudan’s ports opened in Port Sudan on Sunday, bringing together experts from Sudan, Egypt, Spain, China and the United Kingdom to discuss investment opportunities, infrastructure development and the future of the country’s maritime sector.
The two-day International Conference for Sudanese Ports, held on Sept. 27 and 28 under the theme “The Role of Sudanese Ports in Promoting Investment and the National Economy,” is organized by Sudan’s Sea Ports Corporation in cooperation with the Port Training Institute and the Research and Consultancy Center of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport.
The opening session was attended by Sovereign Council member Ibrahim Jaber, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Saif Al-Nasr Al-Tijani Haroun, Red Sea Governor Mustafa Mohamed Nour, Arab Academy President Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail, Sea Ports Corporation Director General Jilani Mohamed Jilani, and maritime experts and specialists.
Port Training Institute Dean Alaa El-Din Mahmoud Morsi said cooperation between the institute and Sudan’s Sea Ports Corporation had continued for more than four decades, contributing to the establishment of a regional training and consultancy center in Port Sudan and the development of Sudanese maritime personnel.
The conference is examining eight main areas, including the strategic role of ports in economic development, transport corridors and supply chains, investment and financing opportunities, and public-private partnerships.
Discussions also cover rehabilitation and expansion of port infrastructure, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green ports, training and maritime safety.
Organizers said four scientific sessions would feature 20 research papers presented by experts from participating countries, with the aim of producing an implementable roadmap for developing Sudan’s port sector rather than limiting the conference to general recommendations.
The meeting comes as Sudan seeks to expand its Red Sea infrastructure and attract new investment into the maritime sector.
Ahead of the conference, the Sea Ports Corporation announced advanced steps toward establishing a new port in Abu Amama in cooperation with an international Chinese company, with studies expected to progress toward development of the project by the end of 2027.
The new plan follows an earlier agreement signed in December 2022 with a consortium that included Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Invictus Investment to develop Abu Amama Port and an associated economic zone under an investment package valued at up to $6 billion.
Sudan later cancelled that arrangement in November 2024 amid deteriorating relations with the United Arab Emirates. Sudanese authorities have accused Abu Dhabi of supporting the Rapid Support Forces, allegations the UAE has denied.
The Sea Ports Corporation has not clarified whether the proposed Chinese-backed development is a redesigned version of the previous Abu Amama project or a separate initiative.
It has also not disclosed the name of the Chinese company or details of the proposed financing and investment structure.
The conference reflects a broader effort to modernize Sudan’s ports through investment, partnerships and new technologies, with infrastructure, supply chains, digital transformation and workforce development among the main priorities.
