Industrial Chambers: Industrial Sector has Suffered Significant Destruction, but we are Determined to Rebuild

Port Sudan – Sudanhorizon

The Secretary-General of the Federation of Sudanese Chambers of Industry, Dr. Abbas Ali Al-Sayed, confirmed that the industrial sector suffered significant damage due to the war, including the loss of machinery and equipment from operating factories and theft, in addition to the flight of national capital abroad.

At a meeting in Port Sudan on Saturday, Abbas said that industrialists are determined to rebuild and reconstruct the local industrial sector out of their national responsibility, despite the lack of incentives. He added that the war on Sudan was not just waged with guns, but rather a socio-economic war.

Abbas called on the government to establish a Supreme Council for Industrial and Economic Development to strengthen coordination for reconstruction and ensure the absence of conflicts of interest.

He noted that work has continued over the past two years and emphasized that the goal of today’s meeting is to review the problems facing industrialists and present them to the Minister of Industry to develop a plan for rebuilding factories. Abbas warned of the danger facing industrialists from the flight of capital outside Sudan by large business names and companies that have been welcomed by those countries, in addition to the problems of taxes and fees imposed on the sector.

Stressing the importance of addressing the obstacles that have severely harmed industry, and calling for the formation of technical committees to assess stolen goods from factories in all sectors, encourage local industries, and explore foreign markets.

He proposed establishing free industrial zones to encourage production and exports. He called on the government to expedite procedures for industrialists and remove obstacles related to fees and taxes, and to review them to protect national factories and industrialists. A number of industrialists called for the need to change bureaucratic procedures and remove obstacles facing the sector, including multiple fees and taxes. They emphasized the need to review these procedures to protect national factories and industrialists, in addition to reforming customs policies and establishing a strong mechanism within the executive authority to address imbalances.

At the meeting, Aref Najmuddin, head of the Chamber of Mills, revealed the major problems they face due to the lack of a representative body for the sector. He announced a major battle with the Central Bank of Sudan as a result of the decision to suspend wheat financing five months ago. He called for the need to resolve these issues and find appropriate solutions.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=6435