Minister of Investment Adopts Plans to Develop Free Zone Legislation

Port Sudan – Sudanhorizon

Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Ahlam Madani Mahdi, stressed the need to review the laws and regulations governing the work of free zones in Sudan.

This came when she chaired the second meeting of the National Council for Free Zones and Markets at the Port Sudan Trade Hall, in the presence of the Ministers of Trade and Industry, the Undersecretary of Justice, and the Director General of Customs Forces.

The Minister announced the formation of a specialized committee to review the laws headed by the Secretary-General of the National Council for Free Zones and Markets and the membership of each of the Customs. The Federation of Employers and the Ministry of Industry, Finance, and Economic Security will review and study the applications submitted by several companies operating in the field of free zones.

Ahlam called on the Chairman of the National Council for Free Zones and Markets to pay attention to free zones due to the major role they play in developing the economy.

She said that the meeting discussed a number of topics, including the importance of free zones and their role in developing the economy. The meeting also discussed the Council’s performance report for 2024 and its plan for 2025, as the Council’s plan focused on establishing new free zones according to specific and studied priorities. The plan was integrated with the state’s strategic plans by including free zones within the state’s programs.

She added that the focus of the work in the free zones was on pharmaceutical industries.

She stressed the solution to all the problems of the free zones, especially the electricity problem, by using alternative energies in coordination with the Ministry of Energy. In addition, national consulting and expertise houses were used to spread the culture of free zones.

She pointed out that the coming periods will witness the establishment of a free zone in the Red Sea State to facilitate the processes of attracting and attracting investments in it.

She called for the need to stand on regional and international experiences in the work of free zones to improve performance and open the way for the private sector to participate in the management of free zones and invest in them.